PAYING with card at parking machines in council car parks in the county is getting closer to a reality.

Herefordshire Council has now awarded the contract to provide the service to 3C (payment) UK Ltd and SIX payment services.

New machines being installed in the council's car parks over the next three years have the technology to provide payment by way of chip and pin and contactless card.

There were 23 completed in April 2016, 20 scheduled for September 2016; and 12 for April 2017.

The total contract costs for the new payment service will be around £62.1k, payable over three years, which will be funded from car parking revenue budgets.

The council said the scheme is anticipated to generate additional income exceeding the cost of this service.

There will also be savings associated with reduced cash collection, cash counting and banking although the council said this is not possible to quantify.