Museum car park is to change from short to long stay after trial

The car park at the Andrew Carnegie Birthplace Museum is being redesignated as long stay following a successful pilot.

Discussions with Dunfermline Delivers, the Dunfermline Carnegie Trust and Fife Cultural Trust highlighted the need for more long-stay parking spaces in the town centre.

In December 2016, the City of Dunfermline area committee agreed to an 18-month trial at the visitor attraction, which ends this June.

It was hoped by changing the Moodie Street car park, visitors would be able to park for longer and have more time to take in the cultural attractions and shops in Dunfermline.

When the change from short to long stay was first proposed a concern was raised that the car park would swiftly become packed with commuters’ cars.

However, a study showed while demand and the number of vehicles using the car park have both increased by more than 60%, overall demand remains quite low and there are still parking spaces available throughout the day.

Since the trial has been deemed a success, a proposal to make the change permanent has been agreed by the area committee.

Committee convener Helen Law said: “When we originally agreed to change the car park to a long-stay one, concerns were raised that this change would be detrimental and would become full all day with town centre commuters.

“However, although parking demand and the number of vehicles using the car park have both increased, the overall demand remains low.”

The plan will cost around £2,000 to implement.