CITY-CENTRE bottlenecks caused by roadside deliveries could be a thing of the past thanks to a new technology company that is set to launch a virtual parking and payment system.
ACTIV8 VPS has been launched by entrepreneur Neil Herron and will allow councils to create “virtual bays” that are exempt from current marked restrictions but which are safe to be used for parking at certain times.
The Virtual Parking Solution software will allow van drivers to book pre-registered kerb space during off-peak hours so that they can make their deliveries without being handed a penalty from traffic wardens, and it will mean that the places where delivery drivers park can be managed so they will not cause disruption to other drivers.
The spaces won’t appear as parking bays to the general public, but will be able to be located by real-time GPS telemetry within the vehicle, or as part of a mobile phone application, which the firm is also developing. Herron, who also helped to launch GPS tracking technology company FleetM8 in 2007, is a well-known regional campaigner for motorists hit by questionable parking and speeding fines.
He is currently in talks with local authorities in the North East as well as London, who are interested in using the service to ensure businesses are able to make safer deliveries and help improve traffic flow.
Herron has already received £90,000 from Newcastle-based venture capital firm Northstar Ventures as part of its North East Proof of Concept Fund, as well as funding from product design initiative Design Network North (DNN), and is now developing the system in partnership with global technology company NorthgateArinso.
He said: “This is an ambitious project which has taken many months and many conversations to get under way.
“DNN and Northstar have steadfastly supported us during these early phases of development, which has allowed us to go to key Government and industry players and get their support.
“We are now in great shape to make a real difference to crowded and congested cities around the world.”
