LOCAL POLICE have hit back over the row over parking in Saltcoats town centre which saw fixed penalty notices being issued in the Chapelwell Street car park without any warning to users.

Over the past several months, the community constables who police the town centre have been approached by several members of the public to complain regarding the parking of vehicles within the town’s roads and car parks.

The community constables have been monitoring these roads and car parks and have observed that motorists have been parking on double yellow lines and on footpaths on the roads and outwith parking bays within Chapelwell Street car park.

There have been attempts to educate motorists in respect of the car parking issues but motorists are still parking their vehicles illegally.

Kraig Andrews, who works in Cunninghame Properties adjacent to the car park that was originally highlighted by the Herald two weeks ago, said that this will have a negative affect on the town – despite his original penalty notice being cancelled by the police.

He said: “It will be negative on the people who are visiting and working here. Something like a working parking permit could help if this could be introduced by North Ayrshire Council.” Liz Greenwood, who also works in the letting agents, said she has started to pay for parking because she doesn’t want to park far from her work when leaving when it is dark at night.

Liz said: “I want to park as close as possible. It will have a negative impact on me as I am the only woman who works in the office and I don’t want to be walking alone in the dark to my car if I have to park it far away.” A spokesperson for the police said: “When the community constables are within the Chapelwell Street car park, they have been approached by several residents and property owners who have commended them in their policing of the car park as they have been having difficulties in accessing or leaving their private car parking areas.

“The Chapelwell Street car park is small and has a limited amount of parking bays and when motorists park outwith these bays adjacent to the raised flowerbeds they restrict the flow of traffic and reduce the visibility for motorists and pedestrians alike.

“This inconsiderate parking also hinders goods vehicles who are required to make deliveries to businesses on Dockhead Street.” This is a view that local Funeral Director Paul Stevenston agrees with.

He said: “The access has been better since this has come into place. I have vehicles that are 24ft long and I’ve known people to park across my private area when they are going to the bank or the Post Office. There are still people flaunting it but it is much better and is, and will continue to, have a positive impact if communicated properly.” North Ayrshire Council have a large sign at the entrance to the Chapelwell Street car park from Vernon Street which clearly states that vehicles must be parked in bays.

A police spokesman added: “The enforcement of illegal parking has always been in place for the police to enforce but due to operational circumstances these powers may not have been utilised to their maximum potential at all times.

“Police Scotland have a duty to ensure that members of the public who use our towns and cities are safe in all respects and that does include the illegal parking of vehicles.

“The police are also aware that the roads in our towns are not designed or built to accommodate the high volume and size of vehicles that are on our roads on a daily basis and they will always afford large goods vehicles delivering to local businesses a period of grace to load and unload.

“Police Scotland work with partner agencies, including North Ayrshire Council, in order to address complaints and work to make communities safer.

“Police Scotland have a duty to police the streets, roads and car parks of North Ayrshire and they would seek the essential co-operation of the public to ensure that all vehicular traffic is parked in a safe manner and according to the rules and regulations.

“Motorists have a duty to park their vehicles in a manner which is safe and legal which will allow all emergency services to access the roads they require to drive on with no unnecessary obstruction.” The town does have two other car parks at The Braes and on Union Street that are free to use albeit they are slightly further from the town centre.