With the voices of angry business owners still ringing in their ears, councillors on Wednesday performed a huge u-turn when they voted against controversial plans to introduce parking charges in town centres.
North Ayrshire Council had been asked to consider and agree recommendations including the introduction of parking charges and agree the levels to be introduced.
There was a third option of not going ahead with the plans but that would need alternative funding.
The plans would have seen parking charges across car parks in Irvine, Kilwinning, Saltcoats and Largs.
Labour councillor, Donald Reid, put forward an amendment which would see DPE (Decriminalised Parking Enforcement) introduced but without car parking charges.
The £600,000 gap in funding, they said, would be addressed by increasing advertising charges on council assets, amounting to £100,000 and the remaining £516,303 will be funded by the recurring savings from the HSCP repaying their debt to the council.
Outraged business owners previously described the proposed changes as 'disgraceful'.
Kilwinning Councillor Donald Reid said: “The plans for parking charges started In the 2018 Budget consultation when the public were asked, would we keep halls open or introduce limited parking charges.
“Officers told us the public preference was to have parking charges, but that was based on low numbers.
“This year’s Budget consultation and 5.000 people signing a petition in Kilwinning caused us to re-consider our position.
“We do not need parking charges at this time and the electorate has made that clear to us.”
Saltcoats councillor, Jim Montgomerie said constituents and traders were pleading with them to stop this as it would undoubtedly lead to the demise of towns.
People were already struggling with Covid and the cost of living crisis, he said.
Thousands had signed the petition and petitions didn’t lie, Cllr Montgomerie added.
Tory councillor, John Glover, said 99 per cent of his constituents opposed parking charges and he wouldn’t be supporting the plans.
Cabinet Member, Councillor Tony Gurney, backed the plans for parking charges, saying that spaces outside shops were unable to be used as the 90-minute waiting times were continuously disregarded by drivers.
Also, disabled parking spaces were abused and roads were often blocked.
Drivers parked over driveways and homes, blocked schools keep clear signs, leaving children in danger, he said.
The amendment was carried by 17 votes to 15.
Kilwinning councillor Scott Davidson, who stepped down from the Cabinet last month amidst concerns on the charges, abstained.
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