No need for parking charges
Over the last week, I have been inundated with messages from constituents and businesses in Johnstone town centre to say they are appalled at the new policy to introduce car parking charges in the town – as reported in the Express (November 6).
This new policy is being introduced by the SNP minority administration of Renfrewshire Council.
My understanding is that on November 8, the Environmental Board slightly modified the proposal but, essentially, it still remains council policy and will be introduced in Johnstone in 2019.
None of the present Johnstone SNP councillors were elected between 2015/17 when there was a very wide consultation between council officers, and both administration and opposition councillors – such as myself – Johnstone Community Council, and the Johnstone Business Consortium to contribute to the Johnstone Town Centre Strategy, which is still council policy and to be delivered.
This process took place in 2016, between January 26 and November 8.
The Town Centre Strategy makes clear regarding retail footfall that “the highest levels of footfall can be identified at the High Street/Collier Street junction to the east, Houstoun Court and the western edge of High Street at Walkinshaw Street.”
This is precisely the same area that the SNP administration wishes to implement car parking charges, forcing shoppers to park on the outskirts of Johnstone, yet possible sites for this, such as at the top of Floors Street, lie fallow and derelict.
Car parking charges in the town centre will be an SNP dagger at the heart of the commercial and businesses sector of the town.
This is busy at present, but with car parking charges potential shoppers will simply drive another 10 minutes down to Braehead and take advantage of free parking, to the detriment of my constituents. Councillor Andy Doig (Independent), Johnstone North, Kilbarchan, Howwood, and Lochwinnoch Ward