Politicians said parking regime is not working
Following a report in the Advertiser highlighting the run-down state of Hamilton town centre, the area’s two main politicians decided action was needed.
Angela Crawley, SNP MP for Hamilton East and Christina Mckelvie, SNP MSP for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse
penned an ‘Our Town, Your Voice’report .
This identified real issues surrounding town centre parking charges.
Many people surveyed stated that they were simply“too expensive”.
One resident said: “Surrounding areas have much more reasonable or even free parking.
“Big mistake changing to pay-and-display in the council-run multi-storey car park opposite M&S.
“Previously, I would browse and buy in other shops, bump into friends and go for a coffee.
“Now I clock-watch all the time.”
Another said:“allowing taxis to access Quarry Street would assist less mobile customers in accessing the shops.”
It was not only parking that came under fire in the report, however.
Concerns with the one-way system were also expressed.
One resident said: “Hamilton has become a large roundabout.
“People drive round the town centre area, rather than through it.”
Ms Crawley and Ms Mckelvie said the parking system is not working, adding:“as more and more of us look elsewhere to shop, we should be doing everything in our power to encourage people to visit our town centres.
“South Lanarkshire Council’s parking regime is clearly not working – rather than bringing people to Hamilton, it is turning them away.
“We welcome the new council administration’s parking review, which was recommended in the ‘Ourtown,yourvoice’ report. But it is now time to put words into action and implement changes to Hamilton’s out-of-date parking management system.”