Digitally excluded residents can still have paper visitor parking permits
Paper visitor parking permits will still be available for Oxfordshire residents who are genuinely unable to set up digital accounts.
Oxfordshire County Council recently moved its residents’ parking permit system online to make it easier and more convenient for most users to manage their accounts.
However, to minimise the impact of the changes on digitally excluded people who are unable to access the internet, paper scratchcard visitor permits will remain available to residents who genuinely have no other option.
Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “Many types of permits which used to be issued in paper form have gone digital in recent years, including tax discs and residents’ parking permits. Despite initial concerns, these work well and are safer, more reliable and more efficient for both users and authorities.
“It is no longer sensible or practical for the county council to produce large numbers of paper visitor permits and trusting them to the postal service, which is costly and often involves delays. The reasons for moving to digital visitor permits are right, and the system is working well.
“However, we have listened to the feedback as part of our customer experience strategy, aimed at designing services around our residents, and are continuing to make paper visitor permits available to people who have no other option. These will be assessed on a case by case basis.”
For anyone who currently has paper visitor permits, these will remain valid until the end of 2025. More details about eligibility for future paper permits will be made available in due course.
However, residents who have cars and residential permits – which have been digital for two years – and anyone with an active email address are unlikely to be eligible.
Anyone having problems can call 01865 519800 and discuss the best way forward with the council’s customer service team.
Anyone living in a residential parking area is urged to set up an online permit account through Oxfordshire County Council’s website. People can also apply for visitor parking permits online.
Click Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.