parking aggregation: one ring to rule them all?

I've a separate folder on my iPhone with all the parking apps that I use.

It's already tipped into a second page.

Worse is that some schemes get locale branding.

Some years ago Westminster (ParkRight) started that trend. Underneath its system was one of the others, rebadged to only work in the Westminster area.

It's a similar story crossing county boundaries. The area where I live has at least three systems, although one of them is also available if I park in, say, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne. It also seems to forget my 'local car parks numbers' if I go to Newcastle and then return.

And there's that troublesome nearby car park with no phone signal by the payment machine. I usually pay in advance and hope there's a space if I go there.

And Wavepay. Great when it works, but often it doesn't. Or the car parks like that one on the South Bank that still only take cards and use wet string for the communications to check validity.

"Pay Slow, Fine Fast" could be a good motto, with the gangster-like computerised chase-up systems kicking in instantly if the time overruns. No need for those yellow and black chevroned bags under the windscreen. A photograph of the car, and its number plate mailed direct to the registered keeper.

"That'll be a £120 fine, reduced to £60 for fast payment"

"Sir."