Cash parking payments suspended after Trafford machine vandalism

Trafford drivers told to use RingGo after parking machines damaged

Cash payments suspended at Trafford parking machines after vandalism Cash payments have been suspended at a number of pay-and-display parking machines across Altrincham and Hale after Trafford Council reported a sustained campaign of vandalism. Motorists using affected machines are being advised to pay for parking through the RingGo app while engineers assess the damage. Drivers told to use RingGo as machines are damaged Trafford Council said a significant number of its parking machines have been put out of action by targeted criminal damage, with the authority working alongside Greater Manchester Police to identify those responsible. The temporary loss of cash payments has raised concerns about access to parking for people who do not have a smartphone or who are uncomfortable using apps to pay. Hale Civic Society said Cecil Road car park was noticeably quiet when members visited at 11.30am on 15 September, questioning whether the parking machine problems could be contributing to lower visitor numbers. The society said it had received numerous comments about the four pay-and-display machines in Hale during the previous week. It highlighted concerns from elderly residents who had found the situation stressful, particularly because of worries about receiving a parking fine if they could not pay through the app. The group also claimed that some motorists using Cecil Road East car park received parking tickets on Saturday while the machines were out of action. Hale Civic Society has called on Trafford Council to introduce up to two hours of free parking while the payment problems continue, saying this could remove uncertainty for drivers and support local shops and businesses. Nathan Evans, leader of Trafford Conservatives, has also called for cash payments to remain available at Trafford's parking machines, arguing that drivers should have a choice over how they pay. However, Trafford Council stressed that the suspension of cash payments is a response to criminal damage and is not a permanent move away from cash payments. The council said motorists can currently use RingGo, while also warning drivers not to scan QR codes claiming to offer a way to pay for parking. Trafford Council said neither it nor RingGo uses QR codes to take parking payments, meaning motorists should be cautious about unofficial payment instructions displayed around affected machines. Engineers are now assessing the damaged machines to establish which can be repaired, while the council is working with Greater Manchester Police and Trafford's Community Safety Team on the investigation. The council apologised for the inconvenience and said it remains committed to maintaining a reliable parking service and retaining cash payment options for motorists.