With effect from 7.00am on Monday, 16th May, 2011 Douglas Borough Council’s public car parks are changing to barrier-operated systems. Users paying daily will be required to: · Take a ticket at the entry barrier; · Park their vehicle; · On return to the car park, insert the ticket into the paystation; · Pay the amount displayed (the paystation calculates the lowest tariff applicable and accepts cash debit or credit card); · Take back the ticket; · Drive to the exit and insert the ticket into the ticket reader to raise the barrier. Paystations will be located at strategic points within the car parks close to pedestrian access routes. There will be no facility to pay at the exit barriers. Alternatively, with effect from Thursday 12th May, users may purchase from the Borough Treasurer’s Department at the Town Hall in Ridgeway Street a pre-payment card which can be topped up. (A charge of ?5.00 will apply to the initial card purchase but subsequent topping-up will be free of charge). This card will enable operation of the entry and exit barriers without the need to use the paystations. These pre-payment cards, which are similar to the passcards issued to contract space users and disabled users, enable operation of the barriers when held against the reader (a small white square panel) on the face of the barrier control machine, so that users need not take a ticket at the entrance barrier or insert a validated ticket at the exit. Attendants will be on hand to assist at peak times during the first few weeks of operation, and a 24-hour intercom help facility will be available. Blue Badge holders will be entitled to park free of charge in designated spaces by applying to the Town Hall for a passcard (for which a ?5.00 deposit is payable) to operate the barriers. Contract space holders will be issued with a passcard to operate the barriers. Motorcyclists may use the car parks on the same tariff basis as vehicle drivers. The new system will apply to the Council’s car parks at Shaw’s Brow, the Bottleneck and Pulrose Road. All enquiries should be addressed to the Town Hall, Ridgeway Street, Douglas, telephone 696464. Ends