A petition demanding a half-hour period of grace when parking charges return to Angus has been flooded with signatures amid claims the move could lead to ‘tumbleweed towns’.
In fewer than two days, more than 1,500 people have put their name to the Save Our Shops Angus online petition calling for a free first half-hour when pay and display makes a comeback to local streets and car parks in six months.
The move will see charges return in Angus for the first time since the days of the former Tayside Regional Council after councillors agreed a budget proposal which indicated an expected full-year financial return of some £700,000 for the cash-strapped authority.
The council’s finance spokesman said the re-introduction of charges would be a case of “how, not if or when”, with local consultation due to begin within days.
Brechin campaigner Jill Scott has set up the online petition after attacking the prospect of any period of free parking vanishing completely.
The recommended charges are £1 for the first hour on and off-street, with a £2 two-hour on-street maximum and charges up to £4 in off street car parks.
Council projections say those rates will generate £881,000 in a full year, reduced to £716k when the £165,000 cost of installing ticket machines is taken into consideration.
“What are they going to consult on?” said Jill.
“The figures are there in black and white and they know what they want to charge to get these totals. We are asking for the first 30 minutes free, otherwise people will just not pay £1 to nip into a shop to pick up something, and the trade will disappear.”
“I know shops have seen an increase in footfall since then, but if there are charges put on from as soon as you park then I think they can say goodbye to customers,” added Jill, the chair of Brechin Community Council.
“I don’t see any evidence of businesses being supported by this – do our councillors want their legacy to be tumbleweed towns?”
She added: “I think the fact that so many people have signed the petition in such a short time shows the level of concern there is about this.”
A spokesman for Angus Council said: “We are currently detailing the parking and charging regulations that will apply across Angus streets and car parks and will begin consultation on how this scheme will be implemented within days.
“By consulting through our Have Your Say webpage and with community councils, we hope to gather as many views as possible from residents, businesses and all users of Angus car parks and on-street car parking about what they feel will be the best, most effective and efficient way of charging for parking.
“We have ideas about how we can achieve this by making our parking charges simple, clear and easy to understand but we want to know what people think.”
