Sign of the times for parking charges

New signs will highlight the introduction of parking charges at certain car parks in Kirkintilloch, Bearsden and Milngavie from July 4.
Douglas Street car park, Milngavie.Douglas Street car park, Milngavie.
Douglas Street car park, Milngavie.

Charges will only apply to vehicles left longer than two hours in seven council car parks, with 21 remaining free to park all day, every day.

There will be no charging in the evening or at weekends.

Charges are being introduced to help pay for Decriminalised Parking Enforcement (DPE) locally, but crucially they will also help to support town centre businesses by encouraging turnover and freeing up spaces for shoppers.

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Residents with no allocated parking within town centres - who are considered to be detrimentally affected by the introduction of charging - are eligible to apply for a parking permit.

Permit applications have been posted out to affected areas.

Before the council took on responsibility for enforcing parking restrictions from the police, the Scottish Government required that the DPE scheme should be self-financing. The approved business case made it clear that enforcement fines would not be enough to cover costs and - as a result - charging for some council-owned parking spaces would be needed in town centres.

However, it will only affect a limited number of car parks and parking will remain free for the first two hours in every council parking space across East Dunbartonshire - with parking free in the evenings and at weekends.

Charges will be brought in for the following car parks - which have been upgraded and capacities increased where possible:

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· Milngavie - Douglas Street, Mugdock Road, Stewart Street (North) and Woodburn Way

· Kirkintilloch - Barleybank and William Patrick Library

· Bearsden - Roman Road.

The first two hours are free, with a sliding scale thereafter, up to a maximum of £5:

· 0-2 hours - free

· 2-4 hours - £1

· 3-4 hours - £2

· over 4 hours - £5

All of the car parks will be monitored. Any additional income accrued will be ring-fenced for parking projects.

Councillor Alan Moir, convener of development and regeneration, said: “Charges will be introduced from Monday to Friday - during normal office hours - in seven car parks, totalling 460 spaces.

“Parking will remain free at all times in the remaining 21 car parks - a total of 749 spaces.”

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