A row over disabled parking spaces is driving Fife councillors up the wall.
Police say they cannot prosecute drivers parked illegally in disabled bays on Kirkcaldy High Street because a roadside sign is too small. However, Fife Council’s transport officials claim the sign is adequate under the law.
The impasse means shop and office workers are parking in the eight bays before the start of the pedestrianised zone all day, leaving disabled drivers struggling to find a space.
There are no road markings to indicate the spaces are for blue badge holders and the only sign is at one end of the line, outside Burton’s.
Furious members of Kirkcaldy area committee asked transportation to do something about it two months ago and say the fact nothing has been done is an “insult” to the committee.
However, officers say they have been too busy with flooding and potholes over the winter to deal with it and it will be carried out as soon as possible.
In a report to the committee, Fife Chief Inspector Gordon Mitchell said a number of areas of Kirkcaldy town centre had been identified as being unenforceable due to poor or absent road markings and signage.
With most people unaware the disabled bays even exist, committee chairman Neil Crooks said: “There is a definite issue around the disabled parking.
“The police are telling our transport service something needs to be done about it.
“It doesn’t seem appropriate we create eight disabled bays at the end of the High Street and they’re not used by anybody other than people who work there.”
Mr Crooks said the committee wanted more than the minimum signage required by law, adding: “We want the disabled bays marked clearly for disabled use.
“It was raised at least two months ago and I would like to think somebody is planning to do this work. It’s a clear case of work that was a clear instruction from this committee not being carried out.
“The fact no action has been taken is an insult to this committee, quite frankly,” he said.
Mr Crooks has raised the matter with Councillor Pat Callaghan, who is the executive committee member with responsibility for transport matters.
Mr Callaghan said: “I understand Neil’s frustration and that of the chief inspector and the area committee, and I absolutely would have expected the situation to have been resolved as requested.
“It is not at all clear that the bays are for disabled use only and we will get that resolved at the earliest opportunity.”
Councillor Susan Leslie added: “We have a stand-off with transportation saying the signage and road markings are as the law demands and the police saying they are not.
“When you are parking you are looking on the ground, not up the road, yet transportation are saying these signs are all that’s necessary.”
Fife Council’s head of transport and environmental services, Dr Bob McLellan, said: “Over the last few months the council’s transport teams have been dealing with the issues winter brings flooding, gritting and the increasing numbers of potholes.
“There have been inevitable delays in works that need a period of dry weather and line painting is one of these jobs. Rest assured we have an ongoing programme of works planned and this will be carried out as soon as we are able to do so.”
Meanwhile, liaison between police and shopkeepers has been undertaken to remind businesses of their responsibility to highlight illegal parking to customers.