BARRIER systems will be installed at three of Douglas Borough Council's public car parks in May.

The system will replace the current pay and display operation in Shaw’s Brow, The Bottleneck and Pulrose Road (King George V). 

Two entry and two exit barriers will be installed at Shaw’s Brow and there will be one entry and one exit barrier at The Bottleneck and Pulrose Road.

At Shaw's Brow the new system will result in a change to the layout on level three and when work is complete all levels will be open 24 hours a day.

There will also be an additional barrier installed on level four to provide contract customers access.

The new car park management system is being supplied and installed by Bristol-based car park specialists Parkare.

Ticket dispensing machines will be installed at the entrance to the car parks. Paystation terminals, which will accept coins, notes, debit and credit cards will be located at points similar to those occupied by the current pay and display units.

Councillor David Ashford, the public works committee chairman, said: "The new system is user-friendly and convenient, offering customers a greater choice of payment as well as pre-payment cards that can be purchased and topped up in the borough treasurer’s department at Douglas Town Hall.

"We also see the change to a barrier-operated system benefiting local businesses as shoppers will pay on leaving so will no longer need to curtail the time they spend in the town in order to return to the car park before their ticket expires. We would also envisage fewer incidences of parking fee evasions."

Car parks will remain operational throughout the installation work although there will be some minor disruption.

The new barrier systems will launch on Monday, May 16. During the early weeks of operation car park inspectors will be on duty at peak times to offer assistance.