Parking mad over new car park fees
Council set to rake in £ 750,000 from drivers
The battle lines have been drawn, and in this case ... they are mostly double yellow ones!
It’s the parking mad car owners on one side – and barking mad South Ayrshire Council on the other.
And I’ve got a feeling that the predicted skirmish over SAC’s bold new ‘ Parking Strategy’ will end up being a protracted and bloody battle.
The protagonists here are clearcut. We have car owners from South Ayrshire, the UK and – hopefully soon – from overseas.
They will rightly claim that they’ve paid tax to buy their vehicles, paid tax to licence their vehicles, paid tax on the homes their vehicles take them to and from and pay tax every time they refuel their vehicles.
Having spent so much money just to keep their wheels turning – why should they spend even more to keep those wheels stationery?
Yes . . . I mean parking fees! Then we have South Ayrshire Council whose remit is to manage traffic and parking to best accommodate residents, employers, employees and visitors.
But SAC also has to consider that car parking is – as Del Boy Trotter would tell you – “a nice little earner”.
No- one seems able or even willing to put a number on it – but £ 750,000 a year is the figure whispered in the dark recesses of Castle Greyskull.
Under this new “strategy”, SAC could double or even triple that figure. If you don’t believe me – here’s how SAC are seeing it . . .
“The opportunities presented in this strategy provide a means in which to create significant additional income . . .” says the report!
As well as a hike in parking fees – it is introducing the Star Trek option – that’s parking fees where no parking fees have ever gone before!
The number of fee paying car parks in Ayr will jump from three to 12. In
Troon and Prestwick – the number doubles.
“Wait a minute!” I hear you shout. “Didn’t the SNP local election manifesto pledge two hours free parking every day for residents?”
Well spotted! It did! So here’s what our crafty council has decided .
“A previous Council resolution has been passed for the introduction of a two hours free parking period and agreement has been reached on the recommendation that this resolution can best be accommodated by altering the charging hours from ( 8am to 6pm) to 10am to 6pm”.
Isn’t it heartening when a key election pledge is “accommodated”.
And if you set your alarm for 7am – can shower, dress and eat breakfast before 7.45am - those two hours of free parking could be yours! Whoopee!
“Wait a minute” I hear you shout .
. . again. Has nobody at SAC got the wit to realise this parking strategy will be hugely unpopular?”
Oh yes. Not only does SAC realise this proposal will go down like a Twa Dugs Betting Club fixed odds coupon – it’s actually preparing for it!
Point 1.1 of the “Risk implications” states . . . “It should be acknowledged that the policies proposed in this strategy might create a resistance from motorists who do not wish to pay for the convenience of parking close to their town centre destinations”.
Eh? Did I just read “create a resistance . . ” and “pay for the convenience . . .”? Oh, yes I did!
And it gets even better under Section 1.3 which reads . . . “It is also a reasonable assumption that there will inevitably be negative publicity surrounding many of the proposals.
Parking is a fundamentally contentious issue which polarises opinion and Officers and Members should be prepared for this and seeks to mitigate the effects by promoting the positive impacts of the strategy.”
And that only begs the question
– “Er . . . what are the positive impacts?” This Parking Strategy stinks. SAC know it stinks and know it’s going to cause a stink . . .
But the councillors YOU elected will let it sail through to legislation . . with barely a nod.
South Ayrshire motorists – don’t say you weren’t warned!
SAC has to consider that car parking is, as Del Boy would tell you, ‘ a nice little earner’