Community calls for parking changes

Online poll reveals access issues for bin lorries

A resounding 92 per cent of people in a Perthshire community survey want to see parking improvements in their area.

The results of an online poll, conducted by the Bridgend, Gannochy and Kinnoull Community Council this month, showed the high majority of residents wanted the council to ‘please implement changes.’

Complaints from locals are mostly aimed at Pitcullen Terrace but also apply to Rosemount Place, Pitcullen Gardens, Burnside and Burnbank with Muirhall Terrace.

Residents voiced their concerns that refuse lorries have difficulty accessing Pitcullen Terrace and the other streets, with fears a more serious issue may arise.

A spokesperson for the community council said: “The consensus is currently that something requires to be done.

“We have had complaints that a few times this year, the bins have not been emptied because the bin lorry was unable to get access to the road.

“This was because of cars being parked inconsiderately and not leaving enough space.

“In the event of an emergency, this would mean that fire engines and possibly ambulances wouldn’t get through either.

“In light of this we thought we’d put up a straw poll to see how folk are affected by it, if at all.

“Some suggestions have been to paint double yellow lines down one side, have ‘resident only’ parking places and have service vehicles put notices on the windscreens of inconsiderate parkers.”

The community council is hoping the results will be discussed at a meeting with councillors and a consultation will be held with all residents to give those not online or on Facebook the chance to air their opinions.

Councillor for Perth City Centre, Eric Drysdale, said: “It is important, so far as is reasonably practical, to understand the concerns of all local residents not just those who manage to attend the regular quarterly meetings of the community council.

“And so when I was approached by one of the community councillors following the last meeting a week ago about a specific question regarding parking and road safety issues in Pitcullen Terrace, I asked that BGKCC give locals the opportunity to feed in their views through the community council’s Facebook page.”

Fellow Perth City Centre councillor Peter Barrett said: “The community council’s use of social media to gather residents’ views on the subject is innovative, it will be good to see what feedback is received and how popular the Facebook channel proves.

“I have also been contacted by residents directly on the subject of missed bin collections and am gathering the data on that.”