Car parking proposals considered
Last updated | 21/03/2008
A proposed 10p increase in Perth and Kinross parking charges would still make parking in the area significantly cheaper than in Dundee and Stirling, a meeting of the Enterprise and Infrastructure Committee will hear.
A review of parking charges across Perth and Kinross will be considered at the meeting on Wednesday March 26.
Parking charges in Perth and Kinross have remained unchanged since March 2006.
The Committee will be asked to agree that the basic one hour parking charge in Perth should rise from 60p to 70p, whilst the basic one hour car park charge outside Perth would rise from 50p to 60p.
It is also proposed to bring in new 20 and 40 minute time bands in certain Perth streets and in library car parks, which would allow people to pay for shorter stay visits.
Enterprise and Infrastructure Convener, Councillor John Kellas, explained:
“We have not looked at car parking charges since March 2006, when the basic charge in Perth was raised from 50p 60p for an hour. The charges in car parks outwith Perth were not increased at that time and charges remain as set in 2004.
“Inflationary pressures have to be taken into account and I believe the proposed increase is a fair one. Even with the proposed increase it will still be a lot cheaper to park in Perth than in nearby Scottish cities such as Dundee and Stirling.
“Charges in Riverside, Commercial Street, Gowrie Street and St Leonard’s Bank will not be increased in order to make these areas more attractive to motorists wishing to park, thereby freeing up more spaces in the city centre. This kind of proposal illustrates that charging for car parking is not primarily a money-raising exercise – it is a very important tool in traffic management.
“We have had some comments from visitors to the city centre that the minimum one-hour time band for parking can sometimes be excessive. Sometimes people want to visit the city centre for a short time, and only pay for that short stay.
“In response to this we propose the introduction of short periods of 20 and 40 minutes to our time band structure. This will give visitors to Perth much more flexibility to buy a parking ticket according to their needs. Similar arrangements are proposed for libraries, where people often only want to make a short visit.”
Members will be asked to approve a consultation process into the possibility of introducing on-street charges and removing off-street charges in Crieff and Blairgowrie, in response to local suggestions.
This would provide a turnover of vehicles in the on-street spaces directly adjacent to shops and businesses whilst providing free longer-term parking for commuters and others in off-street car parks. Consultation will be carried out with local communities and businesses on the proposals. Depending on the outcome it may then be possible to consult in other locations such as Dunkeld, Pitlochry and Auchterarder on a similar scheme.
Other proposed changes include the introduction of all-year parking charges in Dunkeld and Pitlochry. Charges for car parks in the two towns currently operate Monday-Sunday from April to October to reflect their traditionally seasonal use. However, car parks there are now used all-year around and so it is recommended that they are brought into line with other Council car parks. To compensate for the change, charges on a Sunday would be removed.
