Council backs down over £50 parking proposal

The brakes have been put on plans to introduce charges for residents’ parking permits in Paisley’s east end.

Renfrewshire Council’s SNP- led administration wanted to introduce annual fees of up to £50 to cover the cost of the scheme, which has always been free.

But following an outcry from residents and local SNP councillor Jennifer Adam-McGregor, the plans have now been abandoned.

Mrs Adam-McGregor, whose ward is Paisley Northeast and Ralston, said: “There was a paper brought for consideration about implementing a charge for the parking permits that currently exist in the east end of Paisley.

“So, at the first meeting I put in an amendment that there be a review carried out until we spoke to constituents.

“I realised the strength of feeling from the community council chair for Whitehaugh and I worked hand in hand with them. I realised I had to echo their concern. From the moment the proposal came to us I had concerns.

“I defended my constituents to the point where the SNP administration were delighted and were in unanimous agreement they wouldn’t be proceeding with it.”

Helen Dykes, chairman of Paisley East and Whitehaugh Community Council, has lived in the east end’s Cochran Street for 23 years.

She told us: “When they first brought in the parking meters and parking permits here, I was heavily involved in it. It went through to the ombudsman and they guaranteed that the permits would be free.

“So when I saw the fact that we were possibly getting charged for it I, not just as a community councillor but as a resident myself, was just completely hounding Jennifer to get this changed.”

Mrs Dykes added: “We’d fought so hard in the first place to do it.

“If you look round this area, Cochran Street is a bit better off, but behind here there are people who aren’t well off at all and any charge at all is not a good charge.”

Mrs Dykes was delighted by the turnaround and said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to bits.”

A Renfrewshire Council spokesman confirmed that the next steps regarding parking proposals will be discussed at the infrastructure, land and environment policy board on August 29.