Pay and display parking could be introduced to residential streets surrounding Perth city centre, as part of a radical new plan to force out commuters.
Residents would have to apply for permits to park for free outside their homes, under the strategy being considered by Perth and Kinross Council.
The wide-ranging review has been prompted by on-going complaints about a “ring of steel” of commuter cars parked up in residential and business areas of the city during the day.
Areas around North Muirton regularly fill up with vehicles as non-residents attempt to avoid charges in the city centre.
Next week, councillors will be asked to approve the action plan to crackdown on “inconsiderate” parking, which a working group claimed was causing public safety. Some residents have raised concerns that emergency services could be prevented from reaching their homes because of badly-parked cars.
It is proposed to create formal parking bays on more than 60 hotspot areas around the city.
Hunter Hope, the council’s parking, public transport and civic contingencies manager said the bays would stop drivers blocking driveways and corners. Any vehicles sitting outwith the markings could be slapped with a penalty.
If problems persist, a time limit of up to three of four hours could be introduced in some areas while in the worst affected spots, pay-and-display machines would be installed.
Residents could apply for a permit to exempt them from charges and time limits.
Mr Hope said that the first phase of parking bays would hopefully encourage positive behaviour by motorists, but tougher measures could be taken if issues continued.
“This therefore acts as incentive to commuters to park their cars responsibly, to avoid more significant measures, which could cause them greater inconvenience,” he said.
A report to go before the authority’s Environment and Infrastructure Committee on Wednesday states that the worst affected areas for commuter parking are Muirton Bank, Muirton Place, Florence Place, Harley Terrace and Harley Place.
The action plan, which was put together with input from North Inch and Muirton Community Council, proposes short-term measures such as a team-up with Stagecoach to offer free journeys in Perth in the run-up to Christmas, and an incentivised permit scheme for under-used parking at Edinburgh Road and St Leonards Bank.
Medium-term proposals include a hopper bus in the city centre, while plans for three new park-and-ride sites are being progressed.
Residents in North Muirton have welcomed the shake-up. Mother-of-three Donna Fraser said: “We’ve been in Muirton Bank for about four years and parking has always been a sore point.
“Pay and display machines could work, but does that mean my mum and dad would have to pay when they come to visit?”
Another resident said: “You just can’t get parked round here after 9am. Its like a ring of steel around the city centre.”
