As reported in today’s Courier, I have slammed the council’s SNP
administration for its wholly inadequate and complacent attitude towards
tackling parking problems in the
I recently called for a further consultation with residents over
the area’s parking problems and am hugely unimpressed with the council’s ‘do
nothing’ response to this.
As residents know, plans were previously put forward back in 2012
for residents to consider a residents’ parking scheme which would have given
local residents priority for parking in the area of the West
End south of Blackness
Road Windsor Street West End scheme was 16
times more expensive than the parking scheme in Menzieshill, a price
differential I consider unacceptable and discriminatory.
Since the failed consultation now some years ago, it is obvious
from the level of complaints from residents that the parking situation is
getting worse not better and that local people find it increasingly difficult
to get parked near their homes.
I therefore feel strongly that the council simply cannot walk away
from the problem but must consider some further consultation on revised
proposals – for example on a mix of different solutions each covering smaller
areas, rather than the ‘wide area’ proposal suggested back in 2012.
Crucially, the council cannot expect to get public support for a parking scheme
16 times more expensive for residents than another council one in the
city. Schemes must be fair and consistent in charging policy.
I raised the matter again with the City Council and the Director
of City Development has responded as follows :
“I have consulted with my convener on this
issue and our position is that this issue was fully tested through a formal
public consultation on a Residents Parking Scheme for the area, but this was
firmly rejected by local residents. Our resources have
therefore moved onto to other priority areas.
“We will of course always try to assist with
minor localised adjustments to waiting restrictions through our annual report
to committee, but I am unable to revisit the issue of residents parking
provision in the West End at this time.”
The
SNP administration may well have “moved on” but it has done so having failed to
tackle the major parking problems in this part of the West
End and I view this complacency as hugely
concerning.
However,
if the administration intends to sit on its hands and do nothing to help West End residents, they’ll find I take a different view
and I will therefore be bringing the issue to the council’s City Development
Committee so the parking problems can be properly debated and discussed and a
further consultation given proper consideration.
It
is simply not good enough for the administration to have a ‘do nothing’
approach so I have formally requested a debate on the parking issue is brought
before committee as soon as possible.