Parking fine family say they won’t be back
A family holidaying with a disabled daughter are the latest victims to fall foul of Oban’s new parking regime.
A desperate handwritten note was spotted on the windscreen of a car parked at the top of the Oban Times slip along the Esplanade last week – with a parking fine slapped next to it.
The writer of the note said that, owing to their daughter’s physical disabilities, they had parked near their hotel.
‘Attempting to spend time in Oban and two day trips to the islands is proving awkward for parking and expensive. We tried to pay for the whole day today but two hours is no use to anyone,’ it read. The family were due to get a ferry to Coll at 7am the next day.
The note ended: ‘Not being from round here I doubt we’ll be back. I’ll expect another ticket!!!’
Linda Di Ciacca Macgregor, who posted a photo of the note on Information Oban’s Facebook page, said: ‘What are people supposed to do? It’s so bad this parking carry-on.’
Others who commented said charging £8 a day to park was ‘daylight robbery’ and others fear it will drive tourists away from the town.
Oban councillor Roddy McCuish said the family who left the note should appeal against getting a ticket. He said: ‘I assume the family would have been displaying a badge if they had a disabled person with them and I’d be very disappointed if the warden went on to enforce a parking ticket without taking the badge into consideration.’
Since council parking charges came into force in May, Oban streets have been congested by cars whose owners are trying to avoid paying. Workers and visitors are taking up any free spaces they can find, including in residential streets, at Pulpit Hill viewpoint and the hospital car park. Some vehicles are being left for more than a week at a time.
Mr McCuish said he believed Friday was the deadline for offers from businesses to enhance council-owned car parks. ‘We will expect a full report at the earliest area committee,’ said Mr McCuish.