A new provider has been announced for paying via mobile at Cheshire East Council-owned car parks in Congleton.

Motorists who opt to use a cashless method of payment for parking at Cheshire East Council's car parks will see a change to another provider next month. 

RingGo, which lets motorists pay for parking by using their phone rather than a pay and display machine, will replace the council's current provider, PayByPhone, as of 1 October, when the existing contract ends.

According to Cheshire East Council, the change of provider will be at no additional cost to customers and the convenience fee that is added to transactions will remain at 7p.

Motorists will still be able to pay for their parking at a pay and display machine with their credit or debit card, either contactless or chip and pin. And coins too.

Councillor Mark Goldsmith, chair of Cheshire East Council's highways and transport committee, said: "In agreeing a new provider for our 'cashless parking' system, our priority has been securing the best value for money for council taxpayers and the motorists who use our car parks.

"It was also essential that any change did not place an additional burden on the council's current significant financial pressures. I am pleased that we have been able to secure a new supplier that can deliver all this.

"RingGo is quick and easy to use and is especially convenient for those who don't have the right amount of change on them, or don't want to have to use a pay and display machine once they've parked up.

"The switch over to RingGo will take place in just a couple of weeks' time, and I encourage residents to download the App to their mobile phone and pre-register with RingGo in advance so that they're ready to go from 1 October."

Using their debit or credit card, motorists can use RingGo to pay to park at nearly all Cheshire East Council-owned car parks.

This can be done via the RingGo smartphone app, by calling or sending a text message, or by going online.

Peter O'Driscoll, managing director of RingGo, said: "RingGo is the UK's leading phone parking provider, serving over 19 million motorists in over 500 towns and cities nationwide. We're delighted to offer our service to motorists in Cheshire East Council car parks."

Earlier this year, Cheshire East Council flirted with scrapping cash payments at their carparks altogether. But this did not come to fruition.

PayByPhone will remain in use until midnight on Monday September 30.

Customers can pre-register with RingGo online at: RingGo Cashless Parking Solution: Register for a RingGo account (myringgo.co.uk) or by downloading the RingGo apps for iPhone and Android devices.

Once registered, motorists can park at over 17,000 RingGo locations across the UK, as well as the 18 paid Cheshire East parking sites in Congleton.