Card payment will no longer be available in Aberdeenshire Council’s pay and display car parks – such as Market Square, Stonehaven, from next week (14 May).
This is due to a change in legislation relating to security and the high cost of upgrading the machines.
Cash will still be accepted and payment can also be made using the RingGo smartphone application, or by phone. Currently council car parks make a loss of around £140,000 a year, and the council is considering changes so that they cover their own costs, as they have in the past.
More information on the council website: https://online.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/apps/news/release.aspx?newsid=4961
If it costs that money to lose why not do the shopkeepers a favour by making all parking free, maybe even for the first two hours !!!, so that it is not abused. This seems to work extremely well in California, mind you car drivers are much more considerate there. .ie. Take a card on the way in, place it in the machine on the way out, if your timing is correct — goodbye and thanks for visiting. If you have exceeded the time — get into yer hipper!>