Call for parking controls to be put in place

Parking controls are needed to end the

“free for all”that has become the daily experience for drivers in West Lothian towns, according to a local councillor.

Councillor Willie Boyle raised a motion at a meeting of full council this week calling for a report commissioned in 2019 into parking to be brought before councillors, and urged the introduction of Decriminalised Parking Enforcement (DPE).

At the moment

West Lothian has no on-street parking controls.

Pre-pandemic it hired consultants at a cost of £50,000 to conduct a study of future parking enforcement.

This has been delayed by the lockdowns.

Cllr Boyle said:“We’re asking for this consultation to be brought ASAP.

“It’s a growing concern and the bane of our life in Bathgate.”

Currently 21 local authorities operate DPE schemes which enable them to enforce their own parking policies, including issuing Penalty Charge Notices to motorists who breach parking controls in town centres or certain defined areas.

Cllr Boyle added:“In areas with DPE, stationary traffic offences cease to be criminal offences enforced by the police and instead become civil penalties imposed by local authorities.

“Enforcement of certain parking offences, such as obstructive or dangerous parking remains the responsibility of Police Scotland.”

He called for the council to address the “growing concerns from members of the public of irresponsible and dangerous parking”.

In an amendment, Executive councillor for the environment

Tom Conn said: “The results of the survey would be submitted to a special meeting of the Environment and Sustainability

PDSP likely to be held after a forthcoming meeting.”