Whypunishtraders?

It’s depressing but not altogether surprising to see businesses being “terrorised” by parking attendants, as was reported by the Ayrshire Post in their issue (July 7 2021).

I noted that the proprietors of Wee Windaes, They Bake, Helen Scott Opticians, Hairstopper salon and Studio 13 tattoo parlour on Ayr’s Newmarket Street are all said to have been hit with parking tickets in the last month.

And their ‘crime?’ Loading or unloading outside their place of work.

It’s appalling to think that hard working businessmen and women are being are being victimised in this fashion when all they are trying to do is make an honest living.

From what I understand poprietors and goods vehicles are able to load and unload before 10.30am and after 4.30pm with a permit on Newmarket Street.

Those on the High Street are able to do so for “up to 30 minutes or so at the parking attendants’ discretion”, say Ayrshire Roads Alliance.

But after receiving fines during challenging trading times, traders now want more help to ensure they can operate without the fear of having to fork out.

So what’s the problem ARA, why can’t you assist?

If it wasn’t for these traders many part of Ayr would have fallen to rack and ruin a long time ago.

Do the powers that be not understand that the only reason we still have remnants of a local economy is down to the efforts of these businesses? The very businesses who’ve been hit desparately hard in the last 18 months or so and need support.

There was a time when there was some ‘come and go’ between traders and the ‘Yellow Perils’ because there was a relationship, of sorts, and a mutual respect for each other’s professions. Not any more.

It seems to be that, since the outsourcing of parking attendants to the Ayrshire Roads Alliance, a vital link has been lost between said traders and the attendants.

I suspect that a ‘targets’ based system employed by these parking attendants has now left no allowance for that very bit of give and take that made up mutual respect between the traders and wardens.

So no ‘five minute’s grace while I finish unloading,’ or ‘I’ll be out your hair in two minutes, promise.’ If you’re over time you’re booked, simple as.

This cold attitude from parking attendants will do nothing to improve the ongoing relationships between traders and themselves and I can’t help but feel we’ve missed an opportunity for the trading community and their counterparts to come together in order to seek a settlement that could keep everyone satisfied.