PERTH AND Kinross Council is to review parking charges in Perth as motorists seeking free berths clog residential streets.

Metered parking bays have been deserted by city commuters in an effort to avoid shelling out for a parking space.

Instead, residents of Barnhill claim they face a relocation nightmare, with streets over-run by drivers dubbed “free-parkers.”

Bridgend, Gannochy and Kinnoull Community Council raised the issue with Barnhill and West Carse councillor Peter Barrett in response to complaints from residents.

Metered parking and yellow lines introduced in Commercial Street, Riverside and Gowrie Street have led to the displacement of commuter parking, congestion and other road safety hazards to nearby streets farther from the city centre.

“The introduction of charges has caused commuter parkers to look for free parking elsewhere in Brompton Terrace and further up the hill,” said Councillor Barrett.

“This has caused access problems for residents and increased road safety hazards on school routes used by local pupils.”

Councillor Barrett said it could be to the benefit of all for the council to revisit its parking charges.

“The on-street, pay-parking spaces now appear to be empty during the day, which suggests that a revised schedule of parking charges could produce greater income to the council,” he said. “It might also ease the problems caused by free-parkers elsewhere in the vicinity.”

The councillor has asked Perth and Kinross to consider reducing charges for Riverside and Commercial Street to make the areas more attractive.

He also suggested having only a token payment or the first half-hour free for both Gowrie Street and the Back Wynd car park to make shopping at Bridgend more attractive.

“The upside of the charges has been in providing greater amenity, parking access to the Norie Miller walk and sculpture trail, less parking congestion as well as improved road safety and spaces for shoppers at Bridgend, all of which I fought for and welcome,” he said.

The review of parking charges and durations will be carried out in February and Councillor Barrett invites residents to pass on their views to him to let the council know.