Parking permits for businesses proposed
A parking permits scheme for Stirling city centre businesses is one of the proposals under consideration to free up spaces for shoppers.
Stirling Council is currently consulting on the permits proposal and other changes included in a possible shake-up of parking regulations in the city centre.
If the changes are agreed, permits would be made available to shops and firms whose vehicles are essential to their operation but other traders would be expected to leave their vehicles in Wellgreen Car Park.
Exactly what the charge for such a permit will be has so far not been agreed.
It is hoped this and other alterations to the city centre controlled parking zone will boost city centre footfall by allowing people to park closer to shops, council environment and housing convener Jim Thomson said this week.
He was speaking after a dropin session, to further highlight the proposals , was held at the Riverbank Centre, Riverside, on Monday of last week.
It was organised following complaints that people were unaware of the changes which also include:
Revision of pay-and-display restrictions, limiting drivers to up to fours parking (no return within two hours) in the centre area between 8.45am and 5.45pm, Monday to Saturday. At the moment eight hours parking is allowed,
● Introduction of a 30-minute free parking bays in Upper Craigs, Cameronian Street, Baker Street, Dumbarton Road, Corn Exchange and Barnton Street.
●Provision of all-day commuter parking in Wellgreen car park , Forthside and the park-and rides at Castleview and Springkerse.
●Provision of annual, 12-week and one-week discounted season tickets for city centre commuters.
There are also plans to extend the zone in which residents’ permits and pay-and-display tickets are required for parking.
Last month, the Observer revealed proposals to introduce Monday-toSaturday parking restrictions and pay and display meters to parts of Forth Street, Edward Road, James Street, Roseberry Terrace and Ronald Place, all Riverside.
Other areas which could face similar restrictions are Colquhoun Street, Linden Avenue and Cecil Street, and Barn Road and Lower Castlehill at the Top of the Town. Councillor Thomson said they were looking at a system of parking permits for businesses, adding: “We are trying to free up spaces in the town for people coming in to shop. Traders have said that as they work in the city centre, they need to park there. We are looking at offering them season tickets for Wellgreen Car Park, so they can leave their cars there, and free up spaces on the street for shoppers. But we are also discussing introducing permits for shops which, because of the nature of their business, have to park nearby. But nothing has been agreed and we will listen to what traders and shoppers have to say.”
Council officials had planned, following the consultation, to submit a report on the proposals to its environment and housing department on April 1.
However, Councillor Thomson said that was likely to be delayed as officials were still dealing with the introduction of similar arrangements in Dunblane.
●To comment on this story: email john.rowbotham@trinitymirror.com, or write to the Observer at 34 Upper Craigs, Stirling, FK82DW.