Angus drivers are enjoying an unofficial parking amnesty after delays in a line-painting programme.
The fading state of white and yellow lines throughout the county has led police and traffic wardens to be told not to issue tickets in restricted areas where motorists could easily mount a challenge to the penalty charge and a leading councillor said he was pressing for the £75,000 painting programme to be brought quickly back on track.
Angus Council issued a district-wide line-painting contract earlier this summer but the project has fallen behind schedule partly due to Scotland’s dismal summer.
Motorists have been quick to cotton on to the relaxed regime but the abuse of restricted parking has led to complaints about the impact on shoppers and businesses of some cars hogging town centre spots for hours on end.
Montrose community councillor Tommy Stewart said, “It was raised at our meeting because we had received complaints from the public regarding parking in the town.
“The gist of the complaints were that it seemed a blind eye was being turned to certain vehicles and they were being left untouched by the traffic warden.
“The issue here is that the police have told us that they can’t legally enforce the restrictions in the areas in question because of the state of the lines.
“Councillors advised us at our last meeting that the relining would be done but we’ve yet to see the machine in Montrose.
“And it’s not just the centre of the town and the main parking areas which need relined, if you go out into other parts of Montrose there are junctions where the white lines are almost completely gone.”
Mr Stewart continued: “I wouldn’t lay the blame at the door of the council, I would lay the blame at the door of the contractor but it is something that needs to be sorted out.”
Angus corporate services convener and Montrose councillor Mark Salmond said: “For the last six to eight weeks I have been working to resolve this issue.
“I am getting constant complaints about cars which would normally be parked illegally now effectively being parked legally and escaping penalty because there are no identifiable markings.
“This reduced parking enforcement is causing problems for shopkeepers because the restrictions are not there to keep traffic turning around.’Lessons to be learned'”I am working to try and resolve the situation we are in at present, but I will also be asking the chief executive to review procurement of future contracts of this nature to ensure that the agreed time-table stays on track.
“I think there are lessons to be learned here,” he said.
A Tayside Police spokesman admitted that if line markings are not clear then it is likely drivers will be given the benefit of the doubt.
“It’s left to the discretion of officers as to the quality of markings and other signs which make it clear that there are parking restrictions in force.
“If they are not clear then, in fairness to the driver, they would not issue a ticket,” the spokesman said,
He said however, that if a vehicle is considered to be causing an unnecessary obstruction officers have other powers under road legislation to deal with the offender.
“If our officers find that there is a specific problem where the lines are not clear then that is reported to the council, so there is a liaison arrangement in place,” added the spokesman.
A spokesman for Angus Council said: “A contract to replace worn-out white and yellow lines at locations throughout Angus was awarded earlier this year to Central Traffic Management, with a start date in July.
“The contract value was around £75,000 and includes areas highlighted by Tayside Police as requiring replacement for parking restrictions.
“Progress on the contract has been slow, in part due to the wet summer, as lining is a process best done in dry conditions.
“We have been in discussions with the contractor regarding time slippage and have received assurances on increased productivity and the supplying of an additional squad to move the work forward more quickly.”