A Carlisle shopping centre is 'pleased' to announce the introduction of its new Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) parking system following the completion of enabling works. 

The Lanes Shopping Centre's multi-storey car park on Lowther Street will make the transition from ticketed to ticketless parking on Monday, January 8.

The change to the car park was due to come into effect in October 2023, however, a matter of weeks after its installation, initial teething problems with the new system forced the temporary re-introduction of parking tickets.

Speaking ahead of the switch to the ticketless parking system The Lanes Shopping Centre's centre manager Susan Young assured shoppers that all the previous issues with the system had been dealt with.

She said: "Working with our contractors we have resolved the issues with our ANPR operation and are pleased to announce that the new ticketless system will go live on Monday, January 8 2024.

"For anyone who needs help, there will be additional members of The Lanes team on duty who will be happy to assist and help guide our customers through the new operating process."

Susan also re-issued guidance to locals about how to operate the new ANPR system which will only accept card or contactless payments, another change that was implemented in the latter months of 2023. 

Shoppers, upon their exit from The Lanes, are asked to head to one of the centre's pay machines where they will be asked to input their registration number and pay the amount due.

Once this card or contactless payment has been made they can drive to the exit barrier where the system will recognise their number plate and the barrier will rise.