Trials start on parking bay sensor scheme

Westminster council has launched a pilot scheme to help drivers find on-street parking spaces in central London.

The scheme involves installing smart sensors into parking bays on some Westminster streets.

The sensors will relay up-to-date information about parking space availability to an online system, which people will then be able view on their smartphone, iPad or tablet to find a vacant space.

This will reduce congestion and minimise the need for motorists to endlessly trawl the streets searching for somewhere to park.

The project is part of a range of initiatives the council is looking at to help address the ongoing congestion problem in the capital.

Making real time parking information available to people coming in to the city, as well as businesses managing deliveries, will make it easier and quicker to find a parking space.

The sensors technology to deliver this exciting project is being supplied by Town and City Parking Ltd and has been developed by their parent company Car Parking Technologies Ltd.

From September, the council will link the real time parking availability information to the Parkopedia website, which already gives a host of updated information on parking in Westminster, and will also make the data available in real time for other app developers in the future.