Park and ride charge could be scrapped

Move comes after Stagecoach makes dramatic 11th-hour intervention

A deal is on the verge of being struck to prevent the public paying £1 a day to park at the Halbeath and Ferrytoll park and ride sites, The Courier understands.

The shock move comes after bus company Stagecoach East Scotland (SES), which operates the two car parks, expressed concerns the charging proposals could have a “detrimental effect on the continued commercial viability” of services which regularly run through the sites.

Councillors previously approved the plans in April and scores of objections were set aside in June, paving the way for traffic regulation orders (TROs) to be progressed.

These have been halted after Stagecoach’s intervention led to an 11th hour agreement between the firm and Fife Council.

The region’s assets, property and facilities committee will be asked to consider a private report next week outlining the proposal and detailing commercially sensitive information underpinning the agreement.

Although the charging decision has already been taken, it can be reversed under one of the local authority’s standing orders, stating a ruling can be revisited “where it is based on new information or a material change of circumstance”.

If the private report’s recommendations are approved, a draft agreement between Stagecoach and Fife Council will be taken forward with a view to concluding a legally binding deal between the parties.

Ken Gourlay, head of assets, transportation and environment at Fife Council, said “good progress” has been made with Stagecoach in relation to the proposed agreement and, as such, a hold has been placed on publishing the final TROs.

He said: “The proposed agreement is considered to reflect a good outcome for the council supporting sustainable transport and climate change adaptation policies.”

The premises at the two park and ride locations are operated by Stagecoach but with an operating agreement with Fife Council’s roads and transportation service to cover health and safety and operational responsibilities.

Councillors will hear next week that, following Stagecoach’s approach to the council, an initial meeting was held which explored their concerns and reaffirmed the need for the local authority to recover a certain level of income to help cover running costs associated with the sites.

Stagecoach then indicated a willingness to work with the council to explore alternative options to implementing the £1 daily parking charge, which led to further meetings during June and July before a draft agreement was developed.

The proposed agreement is considered to reflect a good outcome for the council. KEN GOURLAY