Setting straight on parking
Dear Editor,
Regarding the letter in last week’s News I would like to reassure readers that there has been no change to parking charges at EK, East Kilbride (Fury over parking charges, October 25).
The 10-minute drop-off/pick-up facility at Olympia is still available following the upgrade to the new payment system.
If you are dropping off or picking up – and you are within the 10-minute period – there is no need to exit your car, you simply put the token back in the exit barrier.
If you put the token into the payment machine it will register that you have parked the car and will generate a charge.
The system works in the same way as the barrier system in Centre West and Plaza.
On a more general level, we know that car parking can be an issue for some visitors to the centre.
Although, ideally, we would like to offer all day free parking there are practical reasons why we have a payment system in place.
It is important to note that EK, East Kilbride is also a town centre and if car parking was free all day, the relatively limited spaces would fill very quickly with vehicles from surrounding businesses, offices and even commuters, rather than those looking to shop in the centre.
In recent years we have introduced free parking for three hours on Saturday to complement the free parking periods on late-night opening and all day on Sunday and have invested heavily in the refurbishment of all parking areas.
Parking is now free every evening from 6pm and from 5pm on Thursday and Friday.
The recent work at Olympia was part of the centre’s programme to standardise and simplify systems across all the car parks.
Anyone looking for more information about parking at EK can find full details at https://eklife.co.uk/centre/Parking or by calling Customer Services on 0845 330 3828.
Ian McLelland, Centre Director, EK, East Kilbride Carparkassistance Dear Editor,
I refer to last week’s letter from Mr Kelsall of East Kilbride Thistle Football Club (Showpark struggles, October 25)
Residents of East Kilbride do not regard the Showpark as ‘spare’ ground. East Mains Community Council and South Lanarkshire Council have been in communication for over two years regarding the reinstatement of the land and we are pleased to see this is progressing.
Community group ‘Friends of the Showpark’ have also worked with South Lanarkshire Council regarding the reinstatement of the park.
The car park Mr Kelsall refers to at the front of East Kilbride Thistle FC’s stadium has indeed been destroyed, but not by construction traffic. All traffic involved in the Keir build of Halfmerke school entered and exited the Showpark through a dedicated temporary access that was opened adjacent to the Thistle car park. This ground referred to and used as a car park has been eroded for years by cars and heavier vehicles. The ground is not fit to be a car park.
The community council highlighted this as a problem at their monthly meetings, over several years. On a recent walkabout in East Mains, the condition of the Thistle car park was noted and councillor Joe Fagan is making enquiries.
We are not aware what steps the club have taken to progress their complaint over the state of the car park, or improve it, but East Mains Community Council are happy to be approached to lend help and to support their efforts. Jean Aitken, Secretary, East Mains Community Council