Kirkcaldy businesses have been urged to lobby their local authority in a bid to extend a cut-price parking trial beyond the end of this month.
Charges have been slashed in various town centre car parks for the past six months as part of a pilot scheme designed to increase footfall in and around the High Street, although the trial is due to end on March 31.
With that in mind, town centre group Kirkcaldy4All has called on Fife Council to consider continuing the trial into the summer and is encouraging businesses which have seen the benefit of the scheme to air their views.
An online survey has been set up, with responses being collated and sent to the local authority.
“Doubling the time at the same parking tariff (and greater take-up of season permits) have been viewed by all as successes, but understandably this has come at a financial cost to Fife Council,” Kirkcaldy4All stated.
“In order to best promote the continuation of this scheme beyond the end of this month, it is important that we channel to the council some business feedback.”
The six-month trial, which has seen shoppers pay only £1 to park for two hours, £2 for two to four hours’ parking and £3 for four hours or more, appears to have been a success anecdotally, but it remains to be seen if Fife Council can continue to take any future financial hit.
Indications before the trial were that the scheme would reduce council income by £25,000 to £30,000 based on usage at that time, although it was noted that a strong uptake might mitigate any losses.
With the trial due to end in just over a week, a Fife Council spokesperson told The Courier that transportation officers are still collating information for a report that will go to councillors on the Kirkcaldy area committee soon.
The scheme has so far been supported by local councillors, who cited the closure of the town’s Tesco store as one of the main reasons for action.