A LIMITED victory has been claimed in a fight against “deeply unfair” parking charges at an Angus park.
Changes as part of Angus Council’s budget will see concessions to charges for Monikie and Newbigging area people who use the nearby country park.
After Easter, there will be a half-price deal offered to Angus residents who “pay to play,” following the lodging of a 200-name petition.
However, mother Lesley Dorman said the move “doesn’t go far enough” in removing an obstacle to children’s play.
“I feel for the locals as it’s not addressing the problem,” she said. “We’ve still got the same grievance.
“My husband and I were at Camperdown Park the other day with the kids and didn’t need to pay for parking.
“Then we go to a local park to ride a bike for half an hour and we have to pay.
“Absolutely, I know many people who think twice about using the park just because they are charged for needing to take their kids by car.
Mrs Dorman added she has been in frequent contact with leisure services manager Alastair Wilson, and the local authority had taken at least some note of the petition.
She added: “If you have a B-Active (local leisure services) membership, you will now get free parking, and a season parking ticket for Angus residents has been halved.
“Instead of paying £2.50 for a daily ticket you can pay for a season ticket, so instead of £57 it’s £28.50.”
An Angus Council spokeswoman confirmed there would be no change to season ticket prices, but a half-price concession would be offered to Angus residents.
She confirmed only 16 tickets were bought last year.
Carnoustie councillor Bill Bowles supported the original petition however, he believes a certain amount of pragmatism is necessary, with every penny raised by Angus Council already being claimed.
“I think that in these hard times, with the austerity that everyone is facing, there is only so much that can be achieved,” he said.
“I am just glad that some common sense has been involved in the council’s decision, and that there’s some dispensation for local people.”
riwatt@thecourier.co.uk