Flushes could be best of a bad deal
Some support for HGV parking plan
A town centre car park might well be the best site for overnight trucks, Girvan people think.
At least that’s the view of four random people the Post spoke to in the town.
But they want rules to ensure there aren’t trucks sitting in The Flushes car park 24/ 7.
Ayrshire Roads Alliance are looking at a plan that would allow HGVs to park overnight.
And Councillor Alec Clark supports the idea of trucks coming in from 6pm and leaving before 6am next day.
But other voices in the town believe this could cause nighttime noise for residents at the Hillcrest car home.
And they fear excessive diesel fumes in the heart of the town.
Craig Galloway, 54, said: “Having the lorries going to The Flushes would free up the harbour area for cars and buses. And it would maybe stop them parking in the streets.”
Mr Galloway added: “I think the lorries do bring a business benefit to the town, in terms of spending in shops and takeaways.”
Nat Taylor, 64, thought : “The Flushes car park tends to empty at night, and the lorries are generally away first thing in the morning.”
Mr Taylor added: “There’s really nowhere else that’s suitable. Ainslie car park ( at the south end of the town) would only take about four HGVs.”
Betty McQuiston, 76, has been involved with Girvan’s volunteer at t ra c t i o n s committee for many years.
She doesn’t want to see the town’s streets clogged up with heavy trucks.
But she admitted: “It’s a Catch 22 situation. We don’t necessarily want trucks overnight in the town - but they have to go somewhere.
“There’s already quite a lot parking in the streets, so having them at The Flushes would be better.”
Mrs McQuiston added: “There’s no room at Ainslie car park, and the trucks have ripped up the surface at the harbour car park.”
Scott Purdie, 49, believes a truck park could be created at Grangestone Industrial Estate.
He said “It’s a big estate, with big areas of ground that could be used for overnight parking of trucks.”
Mr Purdie added: “Big lorries don’t help tourism, but I can see the argument that they need somewhere to go.
“However, 6pm is not late in the summer, and people in cars are sometimes frightened to park next to them.
“I would fear The Flushes turning into a full- time lorry park, unless it’s properly regulated.”
It would maybe stop them parking in the streets, which is good