Third parking system in a month at Tacket Street and Tower Ramparts

Why it matters: Drivers already unsettled by Tacket Street's back-and-forth handover between NCP and Q-Park are now faced with yet another set of instructions, with old and new signage standing side by side.

The details: The two parking sites show a Britannia Parking and ParkBunny sign giving a location ID and instructions to pay via the ParkBunny app, alongside a second sign offering the same location ID for payment via WhatsApp.

A separate sign from Q-Park reads "pay on arrival."

Some drivers were unable to complete payment through the app last week despite entering their bank details, and resorted to phoning operators directly. The new WhatsApp payment signage was installed earlier in the week in response.

What they're saying: One car park user previously told Ipswich.co.uk: "I feel confused and stressed. I've not known what app to use. I've not known how to pay. As a student, I don't have the money to be fined."

For context: NCP was placed into administration on 16 March 2026, with PwC partners Zelf Hussain, Rachael Wilkinson and Toby Banfield appointed as joint administrators. Q-Park was originally due to take over Tacket Street and Tower Ramparts from 1 August, but both car parks reverted back to NCP on 4 August, with an NCP attendant describing the situation as "a serious mess" and saying Q-Park "are having some issues." Tacket Street switched back to Q-Park on 7 August, while Tower Ramparts remained on NCP's signage and app at that point.

On 12 August, Q-Park confirmed it had signed a contract to take over 20 UK car parks, including Tacket Street and Tower Ramparts, from 8 August, and pledged "comprehensive refurbishment programmes" at both sites. Britannia Parking describes itself as part of the Q-Park Group, while ParkBunny is a separate app and WhatsApp payment platform used by parking operators.

What's next: It is unclear whether this is the final system for the two car parks, or just the latest step in an ongoing changeover.

The bottom line: Weeks after Q-Park's takeover first began, drivers at Tacket Street and Tower Ramparts are now navigating a third payment system, with confusing and, in places, contradictory signage still on display.

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‘A serious mess’: Tacket Street and Tower Ramparts revert back to NCP

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