A “park and choose” scheme which could ease transport problems for commuters between Fife and Dundee has taken a significant step forward.
Fife Council has been awarded £235,000 from the Scottish Government’s Low Emission Zone Fund for the scheme at the Tay Bridgehead.
Tay Bridge Joint Board chairwoman Lynne Short previously described it as the “last piece of the jigsaw” for discouraging people from parking their car in or around the city centre.
Park and choose initiatives work in a similar manner to park and ride projects but there would be other options available to commuters, such as electric bikes.
Fife councillors have been told buses could not stop at the existing car park on the Fife side and a park and choose facility is the only option to provide an acceptable stop for express services from Dundee to St Andrews.
Proposals are at a very early stage but Councillor Altany Craik, Fife Council’s transportation spokesman, welcomed the funding announcement.
“The £235,000 from the Low Emission Zone Fund will allow us to update designs and complete planning applications for the scheme in partnership with the Tay Bridge Joint Board.
“This is a positive step forward and is great news for commuters who will eventually benefit from less congestion at this busy crossing.”
News of the funding has also buoyed hopes of improved bus services for people living in the Tay Bridgehead area.
Liberal Democrat councillor Jonny Tepp said: “This announcement is good news for low emissions in Dundee and we hope for local public transport.
“Our campaign last year to stop the 99 bus service at the Tay Bridge car park was stopped by Stagecoach and the Tay Bridge Management because the car park infrastructure was inadequate in their view.
“They told us that a park and ride was needed if we wanted to the 99 Express service to stop here.
“This would provide an express bus service every seven minutes to Dundee Station, Leuchars Station, and to St Andrews.”
His colleague Tim Brett said: “Our constituents are worried about climate change and emissions and want to use public transport.
“Our Stop the 99 campaign demonstrated that there was a local demand for better public transport links locally.
“Three hundred people signed our petition in a short period of time.
“The grant money will fund the first preparatory stage of work and we hope that the project will move quickly to meet the aspirations of local people.”
Ms Short has championed the project from the Dundee side and the Maryfield councillor believes it could help ease congestion.
She said: “People driving in can cause a gridlock in the city centre. It’s great that people want to come here to shop and work, but it’s the people in the city that have to deal with the traffic issues that raises.
“People who live on the edge of the city centre have to deal with drivers leaving their car and walking into the town.”
