Cut-price parking trial should end in March, councillors told

A cut-price parking scheme in Kirkcaldy town centre should be scrapped at the end of March, councillors have been told.

Fife Council transportation officials claim the “£1 for two hours” initiative has failed to generate an increase in parking or boost business in the town’s traditional shopping precinct.

Local councillors will be advised to withdraw a subsidy of £29,000 for the scheme when they meet on Tuesday.

In a report prepared in advance of the meeting, John Mitchell, the local authority’s sustainable transport officer, said: “Anecdotal feedback suggests that the ‘£1 for 2 hours’ initiative is popular.

“However, it has not generated the desired, sustained increase in parking demand in the town centre or evidenced increased economic activity and has led to a considerable loss of revenue income to the council which cannot be supported by the Local Area Budget.”

The trial was first introduced in September 2015 as part of a bid to support businesses in the heart of Kirkcaldy. The area has struggled to compete with the Fife Central Retail Park on the town’s northern edge, where shoppers can park for free for an unlimited time.

Short-stay parking for between one and two hours has been reduced by 50p to £1 during the trial period, while long-stay charges have been reduced from £2.50 to £2 for two to four hours and from £3.60 to £3 for periods of more than four hours.

The cost of a quarterly season ticket has been reduced from £120 to £60, resulting in a rise in uptake.

The report adds that businesses would like to see the scheme continue, indicating that it has been beneficial.