Upgraded payment system coming to Chelmsford City Council multi-storey car parks

Chelmsford City Council’s multi-storey car parks will soon be equipped with Automatic Number Plate Recognition and True Blue validation technology, improving customer experience across the board.

Throughout October, new barriers will be installed and activated at Townfield Street, High Chelmer and Meadows Retail multi-storey car parks, enabling Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR). This technology will simplify the entry and exit process from our car parks for all users – whether you’re a season ticket holder or just visit now and then. 

Automatic Number Plate Recognition will enhance efficiency for all users

ANPR cameras at the car park barriers will record each car’s entry time, eliminating the need for paper tickets – and therefore the possibility of losing them! You will no longer need to double check that you’ve taken your ticket with you when you leave the car, or make sure it’s where you think it is before you head to the machine to pay. The new technology also eliminates the need for physical season tickets.

Councillor Terry Sherlock says these upgrades reflect Chelmsford City Council’s ongoing commitment to providing customer-focused parking solutions:

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“Our car parks are very popular, with residents who work in and commute from the centre and with visitors to the city, too. It’s important that we reinvest in them to ensure that we deliver the best experience possible to customers.

“All of our multi-storey car parks are equipped with CCTV for safety and are maintained to a high standard. This latest system upgrade reflects our ongoing dedication to providing a safe, secure, and customer-focused parking environment in our car parks."

Councillor Terry Sherlock, Cabinet Deputy for Sustainable Transport

Changes for multi-storey car park users

In practice, this new technology doesn’t change much about the process of using our car parks; your experience should just be a little more straight forward.

When you enter the car park, instead of pressing for a ticket, the barrier will open as soon as cameras have captured your car’s registration.

When you leave, instead of inserting your ticket at the pay station, you’ll type in your number plate. The price will be shown on screen, and you can pay by card, as usual.

Should you forget to pay at the pay station, it will be possible to pay at the barrier. We do ask that you avoid this where possible, as it can lead to delays for other people trying to exit the car park.

If, for any reason, your number plate cannot be read on entry, a paper ticket will be issued. You can use this ticket to pay at the pay station and then to open the barrier as you exit.

Changes for season ticket holders

Season ticket holders will no longer need to display a physical permit during their stay. The barrier will recognise your registered number plate on entry and exit, and you do not need to use the pay machines.

All season ticket holders have been contacted about these changes, to ensure that the details on your account are up to date. This is important in order to make the transition as smooth as possible.

If you are a season ticket holder and haven’t been contacted yet, please get in touch with our car parks team online or by calling 01245 606710.

Blue Badge validation via True Blue Technology

Along with ANPR, True Blue Technology will be installed at Chelmsford City Council-run multi-storey car parks. Designed with inclusivity and user convenience in mind, the system allows badge holders to validate their parking by scanning the barcode on their Blue Badge either at a pay station or at the exit barrier – eliminating the need to call for an attendant to check the badge.

At the barrier, simply scan your badge and, if you have parked for under three hours, the barrier will open. If you have been in the car park for over three hours, you can pay the difference, by card, at the barrier as you exit.

If you prefer to use a pay station, simply enter your number plate then scan your Blue Badge and your three hours free parking will be deducted from your total time parked. If there’s a difference to pay, you can pay at the machine – if not, head straight back to your car. The barrier will open as you exit. 

When will these changes happen?

The new equipment and signage will be installed throughout October. Each car park has a different ‘go live’ day, to ensure that as many staff as possible are on-hand to keep things running smoothly.

Each car park will switch to the new systems on the following dates:

• Townfield Street: 8 October 2025
• High Chelmer: 21 October 2025
• Meadows Retail: 31 October 2025

There may be some disruption on these days as things settle in. Staff will be on hand to assist you throughout the day, so please bear with them as they work to keep everything running smoothly.

If you regularly park in Chelmsford city centre, you might benefit from one of our car park season tickets. Learn more at chelmsford.gov.uk/parking-and-travel/car-park-permits-and-season-tickets/.