Parking controls are needed to end the “ free for all” that has become the daily experience for drivers in West Lothian towns, a councillor has said.
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.
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Councillor Boyle told the meeting: “We’re asking for this consultation to be brought to a PDSP or the Executive 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.
Councillor 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 on Tuesday to discuss budget decisions, and a decision would be made as part of a wider parking strategy."
Depute Labour Group leader Councillor Kirsteen Sullivan suggested a decision on the introduction should be considered as part of a “holistic review of parking strategy”.
Council leader, Labour councillor Lawrence Fitzpatrick said he fully understood Councillor Boyle's frustration but added that he had a "full assurance" that the report would go before the committee in early February.
Councillor Pauline Stafford, SNP for Bathgate told the meeting that, while she agreed with councillor Sullivan that it would be ideal to have the discussion as part of a wider review: “ Given the timescales it has probably gone beyond that. It is getting downright dangerous in Bathgate and other places. I think it needs to be accelerated as soon as possible.”
She added that the council was trying to encourage high streets back to life after the pandemic and that parking problems were hampering that.
Linlithgow Lib Dem councillor Sally Pattle said: “In Linlithgow, we have had horrendous problems going on since 2014… the police don’t have capacity to cope, that’s why there’s been so much pressure for the council to implement some kind of DPE.”
She added that at one point as a community councillor in the town the community council had considered administering its own parking enforcement, but the plan was rejected.
Councillor Pattle said: “ I appreciate the amendment, but if it doesn't go to the next PDSP. If something concrete isn’t implemented in the next six to eight weeks we need to bring it back to the next council meeting.”
In a vote, Councillor Boyle’s motion was defeated by 17 votes to 14.
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