Cotswold District Council will begin a phased removal of the option to pay by cash in all car parks across the district to protect the environment and reduce crime.

Cabinet made the decision to begin a four-phase approach for removing cash options from car parks on January 4, 2021.

The scheme will see cash removed from all car parks across the District by the end of 2021.

Phase 1 of the project begins on March 1, with car parks that have repeatedly experienced theft and vandalism in Bourton-on-the-Water, Stow-on-the-Wold and Cirencester.

Councillor Mike Evemy, deputy leader of the council and cabinet member for parking, explained the reasons behind the decision were to decrease the council's carbon footprint and to reduce the risk of vandalism and theft from parking machines.

He said: "We are removing cash payments from our car parks to reduce our environmental impact - our team drives 20,000 miles around the district every year to collect cash from our car parks. We also want to eliminate theft and vandalism of the machines that has cost more than £100k in the last four years as well as inconveniencing car park users.

"I would like to reassure our residents and visitors that the pay and display machines will remain and will continue to accept card and contactless payments.

"Car park users will also be able to use our new and improved payment system, PaybyPhone, which is used across the country and allows people to pay for parking by using the app or making a quick phone call."

Additional signs will be installed in each car park ahead of the change to inform users of the payment options available and how you can pay quickly and easily now and in the future.