Controversial plans to introduce car parking charges proposed at selected sites in North Ayrshire will be considered by councillors tomorrow.
Cabinet will consider the level of tariff for a limited number of town centre car parks.
The decision to move ahead with the scheme was taken at a meeting of full council in September 2019. The project was given lower priority while dealing with Covid-19 but is now scheduled to be introduced later this year.
At a full council meeting late last year, members voted to remit the matter back to cabinet to reconsider the levels of charges previously approved by a full council meeting last March.
Members will also consider three petitions received from communities in Irvine, Kilwinning and Three Towns in relation to the proposed charges.
The proposed system will see two major changes to the way parking is monitored:
- The council will take over parking enforcement duties from the police – known as decriminalisation of parking enforcement (DPE) - meaning parking attendants will be employed to enforce on-street and off-street parking violations.
- Car parking charges will be introduced in a small number of short stay car parks in Irvine, Kilwinning, Saltcoats and Largs.
- Free parking will remain at the vast majority of car parks in North Ayrshire.
- The decriminalisation of parking enforcement and introduction of parking charges aims to offer an improved regulation of traffic in town centres, by directing long stay patrons to nearby free parking, while providing chargeable short stay parking facilities in a small number of areas.
It is hoped that the proposals will also encourage greater turnover of town centre parking bays, encourage alternative more active and sustainable modes of transport and reduce the volume of traffic in town centres.
The car parks which are currently proposed to have tariffs introduced are: Kirkgate, Road and East Road in Irvine; Almswall Road and Oxenward, Kilwinning; Vernon St, Bradshaw St, Windmill St and Kirkgate, Saltcoats and Gateside Street, Largs. More than 40 other car parks will remain free of charge.
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