Plans for parking charges

Plans to introduce charges at streets and car parks in Ayr, Troon and Prestwick have sparked fury.

Ayr would see drivers paying at the Citadel, Riverside Place high flats, Mill Brae on Station Road, and Blackburn Esplanade and also Prestwick Main Street.

Councillor Hugh Hunter said: “It is going to chase the visitors away.

“It is a town centre tax.

“It has nothing to do with improving lives.”

Free parking spaces in Ayr and South Ayrshire could be wiped out as the council gears up to introduce charges at dozens of car parks and streets for the first time.

Motorists heading to previously free car parks would have to pay in Ayr, Prestwick and Troon. A list of streets would also be hit with fees throughout the area under new proposals.

Ayr would see drivers paying at car parks at the Citadel, Riverside Place high flats, Mill Brae on Station Road, and Blackburn Esplanade seasonally on the beach.

Other Ayr car parks facing fees include Castlehill behind Morrisons, Queens Terrace Lane, Kings Court and Cromwell Road. Current free spaces around County Buildings are also lined up for potential ticketing systems including Pavilion Road and Place- de- Saint- Germaine- En- Laye.

Prestwick visitors could also be hit with proposed charges on the Main Street and in car parks at the swimming pool, Links Road, Bellevue, Grangemuir Road and the station.

Councillor Hugh Hunter said: “It is going to chase the visitors away. I think it is crazy and makes no sense at all. It is a town centre tax. It has nothing to do with improving lives.”

He said older people who can’t walk far or carry heavy shopping bags would be adversely impacted .

It is also proposed that drivers will have to buy parking tickets at nine Troon town centre streets including West Portland Street, Portland Street, Barassie Street, Church Street and Templehill among others. The town’s free car parks at South Beach, North Shore Road, Titchfield Road, the swimming pool and Beach Road could also see wardens patrolling in the future. The cost to leave a vehicle on the streets and car parks would start at 50p for 30 minutes under the proposals.

Councillors were due to decide whether to approve the new four year parking strategy yesterday ( Tuesday) at the Leadership Panel.

Conservative leader Martin Dowey accused the SNP of being “out of touch with local opinion.”

He aid: “This is about squeezing motorists to pay for a swimming pool that no one wants. The administration say finances are tight but not tight enough to cancel their £ 42 million white elephant leisure centre.”

Parking is also to be reviewed in Maybole but no definite plan has been firmed up yet. There is a proposal to provide HGV parking at the Flushes Car Park in Girvan and the council is looking at other issues in the town. The options would go out for consultation before they get the go- ahead.

The council is looking at parking permits.

If approved, the changes would come into force in September next year.

“It is a town centre tax. It has nothing to do with improving lives