Mike Joins the Smart Set

FOR the last month Mike Farrow has been acting as a guinea pig –trialling Hart District Council’s new smart cards for parking.

Mike (75), who is retired and lives at Middle Mead, Hook, has given an enthusiastic  ‘thumbs up’ to the new card scheme, which is now available at Hart car parks all over the district.

He says: “I really think this is a good idea. In the past I have often had to put more money in the machines than I needed to when I found myself without the right change.”

Geoff Hislop, Hart’s Parking Manager commented: “Mike was the very first person to have one of these cards.

“We had a couple of little teething problems that we have now sorted out –these cards are good for every one of our customers.

“Shoppers will be able to budget for their parking needs without delving into their pockets for change. Businesses will have an alternative to the season ticket for full and part-time staff because the smart card is not restricted to a single vehicle and can be shared by several staff.

“Customers using our car parks now have several methods of payment –and it is a positive step towards having a cashless parking system in our car parks.”

The new cards can be used at all of the council’s car parks. Chip and pin credit or debit cards can also be used at car parks in Church Road, Fleet. Blackwater station car park and Hartley Wintney.

Once motorists have the new cards they can replenish them on line, by telephone or by visiting the Civic Offices in Fleet.

More details are available on the Hart website.

Picture shows Mike Farrow (left) trying out his card with Geoff Hislop.