Online petition to scrap charges
Shop worker launches petition over car parking
A frustrated Hamilton shop worker has launched an online petition urging council bosses to abolish car parking charges in Keith Street car park.
Murray Carr, who works in the Ecigarus shop on Quarry Street, says he has little doubt as to why 45 business units are lying empty and wants the local authority to take action and axe parking charges in one of the town’s biggest car parks.
Last week he launched his own change.org petition against town centre parking charges at Keith Street and it has already attracted more than 500 signatures.
He said: “As a shop worker in Quarry Street, I read with increasing frustration the Advertiser’s recent article regarding the empty business units in Hamilton.
“There is little doubt what was once a busy shopping venue is rapidly becoming a ghost town.
“Hamilton Business Improvement District are doing what they can, but by their own admission they can do little about the main reason for the town’s decline – the extortionate parking charges.
“It would have been interesting to learn how South Lanarkshire Council defend these charges when other towns in the area such as Motherwell, Bellshill and Wishaw seem to manage perfectly well without these.
“Aside from paying the parking wardens’ wages, where does this money go?
“The days of Motherwell residents shopping in Hamilton are long gone, and indeed it is now the other way round. Motherwell is bustling while Hamilton is relatively deserted.
“Parking in the Keith Street car park costs a shop worker £5.80 per day, that’s £116 per month for the privilege of working in Hamilton. for those working and visiting Hamilton.
“Long-stay parking is available at Duke Street car park, through the purchase of a season ticket, and at the palace grounds car park, at £1 per visit, for those working in the town centre. Low Patrick Street, Duke Street and Keith Street car parks are available for shoppers through the use of graduated parking charges which discourages all day parking.
“On-street parking is also available in the streets surrounding the town centre for short stay visits to specialist shops or services.
“Parking charges are used to manage the use of the car parks and on-street parking spaces, as well as pay for the cost of providing the facilities.”