Thursday 10th July 1958

Britain’s first parking meters started operating in Mayfair. Approximately 625 meters of them were put in place by Westminster City Council, with an hour of parking costing 6 old pence, with a fixed penalty fine of £2 for those unwilling to pay. Customers were wary and many spaces remained vacant all day. Commercial travellers said they had to pay over the odds because they could not be sure how long their visits would last.