The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Parking fees will drive off trade, say islanders
Petitioners brand Mull proposals a ‘cash-building exercise’
Thousands have signed a petition opposing plans to impose significant new parking charges on Mull.
Argyll and Bute Council plans to begin charging at a variety of car parks across the island and introduce residents’ parking permits costing £475 a year.
The charges will hit visitors to Tobermory – better known to many tourists as Balamory – and those who take ferry trips to Iona Abbey.
Supporters of the Stop Argyll Council campaign say the parking charge proposal is a “cash -building exercise” that will simply stop people visiting local shops.
Under the plan, motorists will be charged £1 an hour to park between the hours of 9am and 6pm.
Charges will be imposed at various sites around Fionnphort, at the St Columba Centre and near the ferry slip to Iona. Other locations include the longstay car park at Craignure, where the ferry sails to Oban, and in Ledaig car park in Tobermory.
Residents say the plan has not been fully thought out as weekly visitors to Iona could be forced to pay significant parking charges to stay on Mull while on holiday.
Residents are being offered an annual permit for £475 a year. The equivalent arrangement in Highland Council is £240 per month.
The petition has been started by business owner Neil Morrison, who said: “Argyll and Bute council is introducing charging for parking on the Island of Mull.
“This, in my opinion, is a cash-building exercise and will dramatically affect our island’s economy.
“The proposed plan will not only impose extra taxation on residents and visitors, but will cause mayhem in our towns and villages by driving vehicles on to already overcrowded streets.
“I encourage everyone to please sign the petition at change.org and email objections to Argyll and Bute Council by November 16. People already have to pay heavily to get to the island and charging them to visit our shops and businesses is just silly.
“It will only push people on to the streets where we don’t charge or, worse still, people just won’t bother stopping at all.
“Island businesses are already hard-pressed. There is no need to make an extra tax.”
Commenting on the petition, John Poynter, who lives on Iona, said: “People coming to stay one night or more on Iona will have to keep going back to Fionnphort to top up their parking charges, also adding extra cost for holidaying on Iona.”
Gemma Paterson said: “There doesn’t appear to have been an appropriate or adequate consultation, as these plans have so many implications for residents and visitors that by far outweigh the council’s rationale.”
Ewen Leckie added: “My dad runs a small shop on the Main Street and I believe this could affect not only his business but everyone who relies on steady visitor trade on the whole island.
“Visitors and locals alike should be made to feel welcome, not forced to cut short their stay and move along.”
Argyll and Bute Council was asked to comment, but had not done so at the time of going to press.
“It will only push people on to the streets”