The council has been forced to change its parking payment system to pay-and-display – which will come in to force next month.

Wycombe District Council announced today that from February 25 all of its car parks - apart from The Swan and Easton Street – will change from the ANPR number plate recognition system which allows motorists to pay as they leave.

The news comes almost a year after a Bucks Free Press investigation revealed the camera operated parking system covering the Wycombe district could be letting ticket dodgers get away scot-free.

WDC says it has been “left with no alternative” to change the system following the government’s decision to restrict data held by the DVLA.

Cllr Jean Teesdale, Wycombe District Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, commented: “It’s with real regret that we’re changing the payment system in most of our car parks - it really isn’t the outcome we wanted.

“We recognise that pay and display doesn’t offer the same benefits for our customers as the current system and for that, we’re really sorry.

“The ANPR system offers many benefits, but we can’t keep running it in all of our car parks while these restrictions remain in place.

“It’s an incredibly frustrating position to be in and we’re disappointed that the government appears to have no imminent plans to introduce the measures that they’ve spoken publicly about in the past.”

Drivers will continue to pay before they leave the Easton Street and Swan car parks, and new exit and entrance barriers are to be installed.

Notices will be displayed in each car park affected by the change over the weekend and all online payment accounts will be closed from February 25.

For more information visit www.wycombe.gov.uk/parkingischanging