Proposed Argyll and Bute Council (Off-Street Parking Places and Charges) (Inveraray) Order 202_ Appendix 2
Argyll and Bute Council · 7 December 2022
Back to Mid Argyll, Kintyre & the Islands Area Committee — 7 December 2022 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Appendix 2 - Anonymised objections and responses Objection Response We object to the above proposal, simply because of the abuse already encountered of any spare piece of land that visitors to the town use to avoid paying for parking during the Summer months. We, as residents, already suffer from the ignorance & disrespect of many visitors who come to our shores in Inveraray & the situation will only be exacerbated if all year charges are introduced. As it is, we do get a slight reprieve during the winter months. The proposed parking charges are an extension of seasonal parking charging to all year round. This decision was not based upon revenue raising, but to bring Inveraray pay & display car parks into alignment with the Councils other P&D car parks (i.e. no seasonal parking charges). The extension of the Order to cover the free car parks is to allow appropriate enforcement to be carried out which could be responsive to the inappropriate behaviour you have outlined. Our Council charges are paid regularly & we do consider that our right to park on land already marked 'Residential' (often ignored) should be accessible without hindrance or confrontation. We fully appreciate that Council Funds will benefit from such a proposal but all too often the wellbeing & consideration of residents is ignored. The Council is currently undertaking a review of the parking regime in the Council area, however; at this time there is no presumption made on the outcome of the review in regard to parking tariffs or permit costs. Please add these comments to our earlier submission/ objection forwarded to yourself in March 2021. In relation to “add these comments to our earlier submission/ objection”. This is a legal process, and we can only respond to your “formal” objection received during the consultation period. In recent years, we have faithfully paid for a 6-month parking permit and continuously struggle to find a space to park as these are often occupied by motorcyclists and drivers ~ many of whom never appear to purchase a parking ticket. In fact, I have yet to see a motorcyclist purchase a ticket! This makes paying for the permit even harder to justify for my wife and myself. This decision was not based upon revenue raising, but to bring Inveraray pay & display car parks into alignment with all the Councils other P&D car parks year-round parking charges (i.e. no seasonal parking charges). The extension of the Order to cover the free car parks is to allow improve enforcement to be carried out which could be responsive to the inappropriate behaviour you outline. Argyll and Bute Council is significant area to enforce parking, and we currently have 6 Amenity Wardens who target key car parking areas and responding to areas of concern when raised. We will be reviewing signage in the area to direct driver to free parking. In regards to motorcyclist space, we could explore Motorcycle spaces, as these would be exempt to parking charges and discourage motorcyclist using general parking spaces. While motorcyclist should pay for parking within car parking bay, the challenge for wardens, is the ticket cannot be displayed securely and could be the basis for an appeal. Para #1: As residents of the Front street in Inveraray, both myself and my wife Claire would like to strongly object to pay to park at our house. Additionally, we would like to strongly object to the all year round parking proposals currently being considered. We believe we are being penalised unfairly for living in a town popular with tourists and travellers. Para #4: I would like the Council to please consider the needs of local residents ahead of tourists and travellers who flaunt and indeed ignore parking charges. The proposed extension of the seasonal parking charges to all year round, is not intended to penalise residents for living in Inveraray. Inveraray is a popular tourist destination and stop over, therefore, the parking charges are not intending to be punitive, rather they encourage appropriate parking behaviour, a level of turn over parking spaces, to ensure that parking is available primarily for Inveraray residents. If this Order is made, we will review the situation in particular residents’ feedback and may explore further options to support residents parking. In this regard to your objection, I would ask if you are able to provide clarification as to whether you are objecting to the principle of extending charges to all year round or to the principle of parking charges at all. Or, alternatively, is your objection made to the increased cost from a seasonal permit to a 12 month permit? The Council is currently undertaking a review of the parking regime in the Council area, however; at this time there is no presumption made on the outcome of the review in regard to the parking tariffs or permit costs.
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In your Statement of Reasons, you state that this would bring the car parks in Inveraray into line with the other off street car parks in Argyll and Bute. This is in fact not the case, as the off street car parks in Lochgilphead and Ardrishaig are currently free of charge all year round. This is also the location of Argyll and Bute Council Headquarters. Coincidence I’m sure, but not good PR for the Council, and a fact often commented upon by residents of Inveraray. Surely it would be more equitable to introduce seasonal charges to these car parks, thus bringing them into line with the Inveraray car parks, and providing a new income stream for the Council. The statement of reason is referring to seasonal parking charges, and that the proposal is to bring Inveraray pay and display car parks into line with the Councils other pay & display car parks. The current free car parks will remain free to use. The proposed extension of the seasonal parking charges to all year round, is not intended to penalise residents for living in Inveraray. Inveraray is a popular tourist destination and stop over, therefore, the parking charges are not intending to be punitive, rather they encourage appropriate parking behaviour, a level of turn over parking spaces, to ensure that parking is available primarily for Inveraray residents. If this Order is made, we will review the situation in particular residents’ feedback and may explore further options to support residents parking We are also, in the same TRO extending the Council ability to enforce in appropriate parking Village Hall, and Court House which are not subject to any parking charges (free) but does require drivers to park appropriately, for example, park within white lines, not to undertake street trading from car parks etc.. Many of the properties in the Conservation Area of Inveraray do not have parking facilities, so by introducing these charges you will be penalising those residents - who pay their Council Tax to you. Your proposed charge of £489 for an annual permit is outrageous and beyond the means of most Inveraray residents. The Council is currently undertaking a review of the parking regime in the Council area, however; at this time there is no presumption made on the outcome of the review in regard to the parking tariffs or permit costs. There is significant amount of free accessible parking to Inveraray Residents, and any residents with a Blue Badge is exempt and can apply for dedicated disabled bay that can be enforced. In regard to your objection, I would ask if you are able to provide clarification as to whether you are objecting to the principle of extending charges to all year round or to the principle of parking charges at all. Or, alternatively, is your objection made to the increased cost from a seasonal permit to a 12 month permit? You propose to include the Avenue (south), Village Hall, and Court House car parks in the order, so that regulations can be enforced. There seems little point to this, as at the moment the regulations are never enforced in any case. On any given day in the Avenue (north) and Pier car parks, which are already covered by the regulations, there are camper vans parked outwith the designated spaces (often overnight ), motorbikes abandoned everywhere and many lorries and vans which should not be using the car parks at all. The Council’s own bin lorries and road maintenance vehicles are amongst the worst culprits. The proposed amendments will allow the Wardens to enforce inappropriate and irresponsible parking, and address the issues you have highlighted more effectively. I would also be grateful if my letters of objection to your previous proposals can also be included. In relation to “my letters of objection to your previous proposals can also be included”. This is a legal process, and we can only respond to your “formal” objection received during the consultation period.