Southampton and Stansted set for number plate recognition parking

Passengers using car parks at both Southampton and London Stansted airports are set to benefit from the introduction of new automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology.

A new ANPR system has been installed in Stansted's mid-stay car park, while its forthcoming introduction at Southampton is one of several measures being undertaken to improve the airport's car parks, including new pay-on-foot stations.

Parking systems administrator API SkiData will be responsible for both projects, with the ANPR technology allowing easier access for passengers who have pre-booked their parking.

Welcoming the changes, Meteor Parking, the managers of both airports' car parks, claimed that the changes would offer significant benefits for travellers.

Giles Parry, the firm's managing director, said: "The company brings a combination of technologies already proven in the UK, as well as some innovative thinking and new product development - notably the addition of ANPR and the new note-to-note pay-on-foot stations - that will be of considerable advantage to our customers and our client."

While the Stansted upgrades have already been introduced, API SkiData plans to install the new systems at Southampton Airport over the course of 2008.

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