Councillors in permit rammy

SNP Councillor John Anderson has hit back at his Labour counterpart, Gerry Convery, over criticism of his support for permit charges.

He said he opposed a similar proposal for a £30-a-year charge when Labour were in power, but did“not oppose”the council’s obligation to cover the costs of the services it provides.

He added:“I was opposed to a Labour council profiteering from a parking permit charge.

“What Councillor Convery and Councillor Fagan now must explain is why, when Labour were in power, did they propose a £30 per permit charge, but now when in opposition they object to a charge of £5 per permit? That’s less than 10p per week and prevents those wishing to avoid paying the town centre car parking charges from parking in the parking permit zones.”

Councillor Collette Stevenson, who also represents the EK Central South Ward, said residents should be allowed to have their say before the proposals go any further.

She added:“People are obviously unhappy at these proposals and as elected representatives, we have a duty to act.”

A spokesman for the council said they considered whether it would be right to consider charging a small fee for residents’parking permits because of financial pressures.

He added:“A review subsequently recommended there should be some sort of fee which, at the very least, covered the administrative costs associated with issuing around 6900 permits. This would allow costs to be recovered and the expansion or introduction of new zones where demand requires it.

“This recommendation was reviewed as part of this year’s budget setting process and it has been agreed to introduce a £10 charge for two years. This will now be implemented as and when permits are due for renewal.”