There is cross-party support to look again at Sunday parking charges in Dunfermline.
Liberal Democrat councillor James Calder, backed by Conservative councillor Gavin Ellis, has lodged a motion asking the City of Dunfermline area committee to investigate the possibility of scrapping the charge.
“I would ask the council to think again about the decision made before many of us were elected in 2016,” Councillor Calder said.
“Sunday parking charges are not a particularly welcome addition to Dunfermline.
With high streets suffering an “existential crisis” and struggling to cope against online sales, he said help was needed for the local business community, including business improvement district (BID) Dunfermline Delivers to help make the area a more attractive destination for visitors.
“Dunfermline is at a disadvantage from neighbours like Perth,” he added.
“Dunfermline Delivers has been opposed to charges – should we not listen to them and other businesses who have said they are strongly against them?”
He asked for agreement for a report to be brought forward to review the charges, with the option of removing them included, and to consider what other key shopping dates they could also remove.
Mr Calder also suggested a study to show the impact of charges on the local economy.
“If evidence suggests charges are counter-productive we need to have a way to remove them.”
But he was happy to incorporate that into an amendment from SNP councillor Fay Sinclair, which would look at devolving the issue of car parking charges to local councillors.
Mrs Sinclair added the committee would welcome resources being made available to support this aim.
She said there is a place making and car parking options review currently ongoing in Kirkcaldy and asked that the committee agree to a report being brought forward to explore how devolving car parking could impact on Dunfermline.
“It’s not within the area committee’s powers to remove parking charges, therefore the power needs to be devolved to make these decisions locally,” she said.
“I support the aims of the motion and it should come as no surprise that I believe decisions should be made close to where they impact on people.
“Decisions about Dunfermline should take place in Dunfermline.”
Committee convener, Labour councillor Helen Law, said: “I think we are all in agreement we would like to see parking charges devolved to the local area.
“There is no disagreement here.
“This is cross party and the agreement is that decisions about Dunfermline are made in Dunfermline – it will be interesting to see the Kirkcaldy report.”
Mr Calder was pleased councillors had reached an agreement.
