Three petitions protesting against controversial planned parking charges in North Ayrshire will now go before council chiefs after being accepted at Tuesday’s Audit and Scrutiny Committee.
Protestors from Dino and Sons in Kilwinning, Billy’s Barbers in Irvine and a Saltcoats business representative stated their cases to the committee.
They are looking to overturn the proposals which were agreed by North Ayrshire Council's Cabinet recently.
Tom Biondi of Kilwinning Shopkeepers and Residents, representing Dino and Sons, said: “We have 2,900 written signatures and added to the online signatures of 1933 that's over 4,800 signatures against parking charges.
“A council that is fair for all recognises there is strength in doing things together, engages with and listens to and supports communities to be active partners, is ambitious and trained to improve North Ayrshire.
“Seven businesses in Kilwinning are in danger of closing.
“Why were we not consulted in some towns about parking charges in North Ayrshire? Free parking is a key factor in people visiting town centres.
“We are in an energy crisis. The cost of living has sky-rocketed which is impacting Kilwinning Main Street massively.
“This policy goes against the Scottish Government town centre policy which talks about regenerating main streets.
“We have spoken to John Glover, Donald Reid and Joe Cullinane but Scott Davidson hasn't made himself available to discuss this any further.
“Customers say the council is forcing them out of the Main Street because they can’t afford to park. Our community voted for you and they are saying they will vote some of you out.
“The council is there for the people, not the other way round. More noise can and will be made.”
Kilwinning man Graeme Milliken read a letter from long-term resident, Jaqueline Young.
She said: “The new intended parking charges would affect me and my family massively.
“The whole thing has really upset me and makes me very concerned for the future.
“My partner and I work shifts for the NHS and emergency services and park away from our house and walk back through the main street later at night to go home. No other car park is in the vicinity of my house.
“I am a homeowner and fear not being able to park near my house will lower the value of my property and stop people buying a house here in the future should we wish to sell.
“I have two young children and no other car park is in the vicinity of my house. North Ayrshire Council has never approached residents about these parking plans.
“Like everyone I have spoken to, I can see no positive outcome to these plans apart from putting more money in the council coffers at the expense of hard-working people of all ages - particularly the elderly.”
Wiliam Frew from Billy’s Barbers added: “In the last four years, the council dug up pavements in Bank Street and then Covid hit and closed us for 10 months.
“We’re struggling to pay bills, there is an increase in overheads.
“Bringing in parking charges in the current climate is absolute madness and unbelievable and it shows they don't have the town centre’s interest at heart.
“The key reason people come to Irvine is free parking. We are going to be discriminated against for being in the town centre.”
Saltcoats campaigners said the town centres could be hugely impacted by the charges and people who relied on free parking could not reach the car parks provided for them.
The council said there is a £440,000 of income per year forecast from the parking plans across North Ayrshire.
If the initiative does not go ahead it would need to be replaced with an alternative proposal, or proposals to plug the budget gap - ie. other income opportunities to raise £440,000 of new savings.
Short stay parking was needed to allow a turnover of parking, NAC argue.
The petitions were accepted and will be considered by the Cabinet in January.
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