Parking wardens could make a return to Mearns streets

The return of on-street parking – and traffic wardens to monitor it – is being considered as a way to breathe new life into towns in Aberdeenshire.

Residents are being asked for their opinion on the move as part of a major review by council chiefs.

While the local authority is currently responsible for managing the car parks it owns, responsibility for the enforcement of on-street parking falls to Police Scotland.

In recent years, some Scottish local authorities – including neighbouring Angus – have decided to decriminalise on-street parking, taking responsibility for enforcement away from the force.

Aberdeenshire Council is now considering whether such a move could be an option to improve the vitality of town centres across the area.

The council would be able to issue penalties for inappropriate parking on double yellow lines, single yellow lines, misuse of disabled parking bays, school “keep clear” areas and for overstaying in limited waiting spaces.

The authority say the proposal would allow members of the public to park closer to shops, thus leading to a reduction in the number of motorists circling town centres looking for on-street parking and that this would bring improvements in road safety.

Responses to the consultation, which runs throughout October, will be used to inform any future decision on the idea.

Aberdeenshire’s infrastructure services committee chairman, Councillor Peter Argyle, said: “Effective car parking is a critical element in ensuring that our towns are economically successful and deliver real benefits for those they serve.”