Ticket machines in Swindon’s multi-storey car parks will no longer accept cash from Monday, the council has said. Those wanting to park in the Whalebridge, Brunel North, Brunel West and Fleming Way car parks will have to pay by contactless card or the PayByPhone app.
Swindon Borough Council said the measure, which was described as temporary, would protect staff and residents. Cash will be accepted by ticket machines at the council’s other pay and display car parks. To protect staff and residents, Whalebridge, Brunel North, Brunel West and Fleming Way car parks will temporarily only be accepting contactless payment from Monday (8 Feb).
Four council car parks are going contactless TICKET machines in four of the town s major car parks will only be accepting card payments for the time being.
Swindon Borough Council has introduced contactless card machines in its car parks at Brunel North and South, Fleming Way and Whalebridge sites, so the option to use cash will not be available from Monday, February 8. The move is designed to protect is staff during from having to handle cash and the machines during the coronavirus pandemic. But a spokesman insisted it was a temporary measure and there are still plenty of other car parks where cash can still be used.
It was nice to see two separate reports this week, which showed Swindon as being in a strong position to bounce back from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic Normally when the Centre for Cities’ Outlook report is published at the start of each year, we are rubbing shoulders near the top of the leader board with some powerful cities and outperforming many others on a number of different economic indicators. This year, we hardly got a mention. But that is cause for encouragement because this year’s report focused on the impact of COVID-19 on urban life and the prospects for the future and, in particular, those that have been worst affected.
THE Conservatives emerged from the 2019 Swindon elections looking stronger than ever. They entered polling day with a majority small enough to attract TV news crews to the Oasis centre, sniffing a possible change – but by the end of the night had a five-seat majority. If elections had been held last year as scheduled, David Renard’s administration would have been confident of keeping control of the chamber and enjoying a year off from campaigning this spring. Former Conservative prime minister Harold Macmillan said the thing that most affected governments and prime ministers was “events, dear boy, events”. And there have definitely been some events since May 2019 – but the council leader has reason to be optimistic
November started with another national lockdown in response to a rise in Covid-19 cases. All shops had to close, unless they were classed as essential stores, while pubs, restaurants and cafes could only operate as takeaway or delivery. Schools remained open throughout the month-long lockdown and it was revealed Swindon would enter the new system at Tier 2 in December – meaning football fans could return to the County Ground for the first time since March. In more sad news, November was the month that saw the Oasis Leisure Centre close for good. The landmark site was already shut because of the national lockdown but landlord Seven Capital and operator GLL had decided not to reopen in December.