THE REINTRODUCTION of a parking scratchcard voucher system has moved a step closer after thousands of residents backed the move.

A petition advocating a return of the system allowing motorists to buy set value vouchers to display in their car windows was presented at full council on Thursday night and councillors agreed to explore the issue further later in the year.

Conservative councillor Vanessa Brown, who launched the petition, said it had attracted more than 2,000 signatures.

She said that many elderly residents did not have mobile phones and found it difficult to walk around to find a coin-operated parking machine.

The Hove Park councillor said the current system was causing problems for shopkeepers with many drivers either visiting remaining areas of the city with free parking or choosing to visit other Sussex towns and cities where parking was cheaper.

The petition was supported by a Green amendment which called on the council’s environment, transport and sustainability committee, to investigate the difficulties faced by motorists without mobile phones and mobility issues.

Green councillor David Gibson said it was important the council satisfied itself that people were not struggling to park in the city.

Labour councillor Gill Mitchell, transport committee chairwoman, said the system was stopped in 2008 in selected parts of the city because of the expense to maintain the scheme.

She said it would be costly to reintroduce the system with the need for additional signage and that a recent decision to add hundreds of pay-by-card parking meters would make it easier for motorists.