Councils to introduce ticketless parking in new system

The councils have proposed that motorists will be required to register their vehicles using the machine, by phone, online, or via an app before parking at council sites.

South Oxfordshire District Council plans to introduce a series of updates to car parks in towns including Thame and Wallingford under new civil enforcement orders.

The changes form part of the South Oxfordshire District Council (Civil Enforcement Off-Street Parking Places) (No.1) Order 2026, revoking the 2024 order currently in effect.

As part of the proposals, all council pay-and-display car parks would move to a ticketless system, requiring vehicles to be registered at the payment machine, by phone, online or via an app.

Fifteen parking spaces would be lost at the Cattlemarket car park in Thame to enable the redevelopment of an adjacent commercial property.

Disabled parking spaces would be relocated to maintain the current provision.

Other changes include extending the charging period to allow all-day parking at the Southern Road car park in Thame, which is currently short-stay only.

The order would also introduce a revised fee structure at two long-stay car parks in Wallingford to offer what the council describes as ‘more flexibility’.

Details of the proposed order and the council’s rationale are available for public inspection at Abbey House in Abingdon between 9:30am and 12:30pm and 1:30pm and 4:00pm Monday to Friday (not including bank holidays).

Please call 01235 422 422 to make an appointment to view these documents.

Members of the public who wish to comment or object can do so by emailing technicalservices@southandvale.gov.uk, using the consultation link on the council’s website, or writing to the technical services manager at Abbey House, Abbey Close, Abingdon, OX14 3JE.

Comments must be submitted by 11.59pm on Friday, May 8.

All feedback will be considered by the council’s Cabinet before a final decision is made.

If approved, the new system will require vehicle registration upon arrival to park, using the machine, a mobile phone, or via the app.

This applies even during free periods or when a valid permit is required.

Motorcycles and vehicles displaying a valid disabled badge will remain exempt from parking charges across all affected locations, but time limits still apply.

Additional administrative charges may apply, including £16 for replacement permits.

Other recent notices across the area include changes to parking regulations in Vale of White Horse, where the district council is proposing similar updates.

Vale of White Horse’s plan to move to a ticketless pay-on-arrival model across its car parks will involve revoking the existing 2022 orders and implementing new orders for 2026.

Documents are available for public review at Abbey House.

Appointments can be arranged by calling 01235 422 422.

Feedback must be received by 11.59pm on Friday, May 8, 2026.

In Oxford, temporary road closures are set to take place for May Day celebrations.

Oxfordshire County Council has issued an order closing several roads in the High Street and Longwall Street area on Friday, May 1, between 2am and 9am.

This is to protect public safety during May Day celebrations centred on Magdalen Bridge.

The closures will affect the High Street from The Plain to just east of King Edward Street, as well as Longwall Street to Holywell Street, Rose Lane, Queens Lane, and Merton Street at the High Street junction.

Exemptions apply for emergency vehicles and authorised property access.

The alternative route for motor vehicles from the south is either via Iffley Road, Donnington Bridge Road, Weirs Lane, and Abingdon Road towards central Oxford; from the east via St Clements Street, Marston Road, Cherwell Drive, Marston Ferry Road, Banbury Road and vice versa.

The order will remain in effect for the duration of the May Day event.

Anyone affected or wishing to review further details can contact the Traffic Regulations Team at County Hall.

To keep up to date with the latest public notices, please visit: https://publicnoticeportal.uk/