‘Tap & Go’ parking meters now operational in Trim, Kells and Navan

The parking meters in Navan, Kells and Trim have been upgraded with new technology.

Twenty of the new machines have been provided with a 'Tap and Go' debit/credit card payment facility and the new machines are solar powered.

Meath County Council says this will be followed in the near future by a pay by phone option, so people can pay without having to visit a parking machine.

The tap and go machines in Kells are located in Bective Street, the Fair Green, Library and Council Office car parks as well as Kenlis Place.

In Trim they are located in the Emmet Street, Castle Street, Tower View and Haggard Street car parks.

In Navan, there are four of the machines on Kennedy Road, three at the Fairgreen, two at the Kells Road car park and one each at the O’Mahoney's and Abbey Road car parks.

Cllr Edward Fennessy said that for a variety of reasons, the council's modernisation of parking services in Meath is an excellent initiative. “Through their use of solar power, the newly installed parking meters are environmentally sound and sustainable. Twenty of those meters offer a tap and go service which minimises physical contact and will help protect public health during the current pandemic.

“The most appealing aspect of the scheme is the planned rollout of a parking tag system towards the end of the year. The introduction of such a system will streamline parking services in the county by giving people the option of paying through an app on their phone.

“To council's credit, everyone, from service user to provider will benefit from this programme, it is most welcome indeed,” he said.

However Trim's Cllr Noel French said the jury is out on the new machines.

“There have been teething problems. Some have not been adjusted to allow for the free hour parking that we allow with one hour’s paid parking,” he says.

“It will take a bit of time for people to get used to them. Because of Covid-19, there isn't stringent enforcement at the moment and we will see what the response is when it is properly enforced,” he said.

How have you been finding the new meters, easy to use? We'd love to hear from you. Sally.Harding@meathcronicle.ie