Rasbert Turner, Gleaner Writer

SPANISH TOWN, St Catherine:

THE COMMERCIAL services manager of the St Catherine Parish Council, Ferdinand Page, says a meeting will be held today to sensitise motorists on the new permit parking system to take effect in Spanish Town on March 31.

Page told The Gleaner this week that the meeting will be held at the office of the Social Development Commission in Spanish Town at 10:00 a.m.

He said the system would allow persons who want to do business in and around Spanish Town to park their vehicles at several bays established by the council for a fee of $50 per hour.

He said the parking system would operate almost like a meter system but, due to the high level of vandalism, "we choose not to use meters".

Functioning of the system

Page explained that persons would be required to go to various vendors and software would be used to provide the time allotted for parking and when the time expires. He also said several resource persons were being trained to monitor the smooth operation of the systems.

Persons who park illegally in the bays would be charged a $2,500 clamping fee and, if they do not retrieve their vehicle before the 6:00 p.m. closing time, they would have to pay an additional wrecker fee of $3,500 and whatever storage fee might apply.

Page told The Gleaner that several streets throughout Spanish Town, including Barrett, Young, Beckford, Adelaide and other streets, will be earmarked.

The Gleaner learnt that persons who want to purchase parking permits will be able to do so at existing business places in the Old Capital, as the software will be installed at such locations for that purpose.