Councillors agree to listen to public on permit scheme cost

Dundee’s city development committee has pledged to listen to the public before deciding how a parking permit scheme will be funded after intervention by a West End councillor last night.

A report before the committee recommended maintenance costs of the scheme be fully recuperated by residents paying an annual fee.

However, councillor Fraser Macpherson made a motion which removed that recommendation.

Mr Macpherson suggested instead that “all options” are brought back before the committee on the “appropriate level of... annual charges” after public consultation is complete.

Blackness Library hosted a consultation event on Saturday, and a further one is due to take place there on Thursday.

Mr Macperhson said: “We don’t want to give the impression of moving the goal posts.

“By putting in the (full cost recovery) recommendation, we are making a commitment to do something.

“We really shouldn’t be doing that when we have not completed the consultation.

“We should be looking at all options.”

Discussion took place in the chamber over the exact wording of Mr Macpherson’s amendment, but councillors ultimately agreed on it.

A further report will be presented to the committee in due course.

The parking permit scheme could affect large areas of the West End, Coldside and Maryfield.

The scheme is in part designed to help drivers park near their own homes, as space is at a premium in the city centre’s surrounding areas.