MOTORISTS using car parks in Bournemouth and Poole are not likely to see new pay and display machines that give change any time soon, say councils.

It comes in the wake of a report that revealed councils and train operating companies across the country were making millions using machines that do not offer change when a ticket is bought.

Figures revealed in a national newspaper showed that some councils made as much as £100,000 extra by not giving change – for example if £1 is inserted for an 80p parking ticket, as is the cost for an hour in many Poole town centre car parks.

When contacted by the Daily Echo, both Bournemouth and Poole councils said they did not keep records of how much extra revenue they collected from pocketing motorists’ change.

Rob Pickernell, assistant parking services manager at Borough of Poole, said: “The council can understand that drivers can find it frustrating that our pay and display machines do not give change.

“Unfortunately, within the parking industry we are not aware of suppliers that manufacture pay and display machines with the option for change giving, mainly due to the security risks associated with machines having change within them at all times.

“We do operate a cashless payment system, Ringgo, where motorists can pay the exact fee required using their mobile phones.”

Generally pay and display car park machines do not give change, while pay on exit ones do. Motorists can also use the phone payment system, but a fee of at least 20p is usually charged.

Mike Holmes, service director for planning and transport at Bournemouth council, said: “Currently a large number of our parking ticket machines do not offer change.

“However, since introducing the option for motorists to pay for their ticket over the phone, there has been a growing upward trend in the numbers using this facility which makes it easier to pay for parking without having to carry the correct change.

“We will look to replace our older ticket machines as and when required and will consider the option to introduce machines that provide change.”

The Taxpayers’ Alliance called said it was “sneaky to install parking machines that don’t offer change knowing there will be a surplus”.