CAR parks across the city will avoid becoming fully cashless for at least a decade, due to concerns that elderly residents are unable to use the technology.

Southend Council is keen to push on with plans to make car parks across the borough cashless.

However, concerns have been raised it could put people off visiting the city centre and seafront.

Steven Wakefield, councillor responsible for parking, stressed it could be at least ten years until the car parks are fully cashless.

He said: “There are different forms of payment such as card or using the application, but we are leaving in cash to run its course.

“The Covid pandemic has meant less people are using cash and we could be going cashless in about ten years.

“I know some people in their eighties who can use card to pay to park and I do not think it would put people off coming.

“We will still be accepting cash for those who want to use it and going cashless will be a natural progression.”

Southend BID manager Suzanne Gloyne said the city must retain cash payments to keep the city accessible to all.

She said: “Although there has been a significant rise in the use of cash-free payments over the last few years, it is still important to offer cash payment options where possible in an effort to keep visiting our city easy and accessible for all. Southend is vibrant, inclusive, and diverse, which needs to be considered.”

Joan Tiney, 72, owner of the Borough Hotel on Southend seafront, fears that stopping cash payments for parking would badly impact businesses.

She said: “It’s ridiculous and is a step in the wrong direction. I know some people without a mobile phone so I don’t know what they are expected to do.

“It would be a problem for older people and would also possibly affect businesses and the economy as it would put people off visiting or going to town or the seafront.

“I have seen people struggling to pay at the metres without using cash.”

Kevin Buck, Conservative spokesman for highways, raised concerns about excluding people who cannot use mobile phones to pay.

He said: “The cost is also higher for cashless than to collect the money from the machines.”