New payment machines should be in place at Oxford's Westgate car park in time for the Christmas shopping rush.
On July 7, the city council's executive board will make a final decision on replacing payment machines at the rundown multi-storey car park.
If approved, the council will spend £155,000 replacing the 16-year-old machines, with new ones in place by October 1. There have been frequent problems with the old machines which issue tickets so that drivers can activate an exit barrier. The six new machines will all accept notes.
Executive member for transport, Colin Cook, said: "The council has wanted to demolish the car park for a long time and see it replaced with a new underground car park as part of a redeveloped Westgate shopping centre.
"I know people are very frustrated with the payment machines, but we needed to wait for the Government's decision on the redevelopment plans before we could spend any money."
The council is working with Capital Shopping Centres, the owners of the Westgate Centre, to bring forward a new planning application next year to redevelop both the car park and the shopping centre.
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