A Perth councillor claims he has been “vindicated” over his criticism of the council’s handling of new parking arrangements.
Councillor Alexander Stewart described the situation which left traffic wardens powerless to issue fines for a month as a “blunder”, while the council maintained it had been deliberate to allow motorists time to get used to the new arrangements.
Mr Stewart says he is vindicated as more information has come to light.
“Over recent weeks I have highlighted the difficulties that Perth and Kinross Council have got themselves into regarding parking in Perth when they attempted to simplify and rationalise both on-street and off-street council controlled parking,” he said. “This has created a free-for-all and left the council with egg on its face.
“Council spokespersons have been attempting damage limitation by making statements on behalf of the council to try and justify the position.
“I have now gone back to look at the report that came to the enterprise and infrastructure committee on June 3 last year when this proposal was discussed and nowhere in the report is a bedding-in period mentioned, which the council insisted was always their intention.
“There was no discussion either of the possible reduction in income and nothing about the implications if something went wrong ie no contingency if the traffic orders were invalid.
“Is it not about time the SNP administration held up their hands and admitted that they got it wrong?”
Applications have been made for traffic orders and the council say that fines will be able to be imposed around a month from the January 11 start date of the new parking arrangements.
The council had asked the public not to “abuse” the loophole but inevitably some people have not been paying for tickets.
A warm welcome has been made for the free 15 minutes of parking, part of the new arrangements, which businesses hope will boost trade.
The council declined to add to their earlier statement that the fine-free period was deliberate.
“We appreciate that it will take a bit of time for people to get used to the changes. Instead we are encouraging parking attendants to advise and support motorists to understand the new parking zones and charges.”