Calls for county wide smart card scheme

Residents may soon benefit from a one stop travel card in Wiltshire.

At the end of the month council is set to debate a motion proposed by Cllr Magnus Macdonald, Wiltshire Lib Dem's spokesperson from transport and highways, to begin developing a smart card for the county which will be used to pay for public transport, parking and several other possibilities.

"Wiltshire has the chance to move into the 21st century," argued Cllr Magnus Macdonald, "a smartcard will allow residents to pay for what they use when they use it while also reducing the cost of storing and transporting money at car parks and on buses."

"We have a chance to deliver fairer fares for Wiltshire and I really hope the council takes this opportunity."

"It could right the wrong of our council being the biggest change cheat in the country and stop them taking hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of change out of the pockets of Wiltshire residents. It also gives us opportunities to expand its use in the future."

Leader of Wiltshire's Lib Dems Cllr Jon Hubbard agrees with this adding "this is the sort of joined up strategic thinking that our council should be doing. We need to be bold in Wiltshire and take on the challenge of developing something that I believe will really benefit local residents."

Below is the motion submitted by Cllr Magnus Macdonald

Council recognises the progress that has been made by service providers to introduce Smart Card technologies on public transport across the region.

Council further recognises the potential cost savings that can be achieved through the adoption of such schemes and the considerable improvements in customer experience that can result.

Council notes the benefits of integrating such schemes, thus better facilitating residents being able to travel with ease, and further notes that where such schemes are integrated with associated transport schemes, such as car parking and other council services, additional savings and improvements for residents can be achieved.

Council therefore requests that the Administration work with Officers and partners to develop a 'One Card for Wiltshire' scheme that would enable a resident to use a single payment card to pay for both public transport and car parking across the county. Additionally Council requests that the possibility of adding the ability to pay for additional council services should be investigated.

Council understands that there is work being undertaken on a regional basis and that any such scheme will have to be phased in, but requests the Administration to ensure that future developments on use of Smart Cards in the county should focus on delivery of 'One Card for Wiltshire'.