Councils should keep cash options for paying for parking, Michael Gove has warned.
The Levelling-Up Secretary has written to town hall chiefs urging them to keep meters which accept cash, amid fears too many are forcing motorists to pay via mobile phone apps.
“Cash remains legal tender and it will continue to be used in our daily lives by people who favour its accessibility and ease,” he wrote.
“I am therefore concerned that local authorities should ensure that there are alternative provisions for parking payments available so that no part of society is digitally excluded.
“This is important for many areas in preserving the accessibility of our high streets and town centres for all."
He insisted it would be inappropriate for parking to be made "solely available" to people with mobile phones.
"All local authorities have existing statutory duties to ensure that they do not discriminate against older people or those with vulnerabilities," he added.
Motoring and older people’s groups backed the call to save cash options for people unable or reluctant to switch to payment through apps.
Silver Voices director Dennis Reed said: "We are pleased to see the Government has stirred out of its inertia on this troubling trend of pushing all transactions onto smartphones.
“Urging local authorities not to phase out cash parking meters is a good start but this must be enforced through legislation.
“Older people without smartphones, or who only use them for old fashioned telephone calls, feel increasingly isolated from society.
“It is clear age discrimination to force older people to use smartphone apps, as Michael Gove recognises, and therefore the Government should be bringing forward proposals to ensure that cash or card is always an option - whether it be for parking, banking, travel or sports events.”
Jack Cousens, head of roads policy for the AA, said: “In our surveys, older drivers tell us that cash is king when it comes to paying for parking.
“Moving to a world where ‘pay by app’ is the default excludes many motorists who choose not to have a smartphone.
“Should councils stop accepting cash then they should create the means to accept it.
“One idea is to allow local shops to take payment as it keeps people coming back to the high street.”
A Local Government Association spokesman said: “It is down to individual councils to make such decisions but some have chosen to look to find more efficient and secure ways of paying for parking, which is common practice in the private sector.”
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