Council bosses now look set to put a halt to plans to introduce car parking charges in Saltcoats, Stevenston and Kilwinning.

At a meeting of North Ayrshire’s full council today (Wednesday) the question of proposed charges was raised by North Coast and Cumbraes councillor Ian Murdoch.

He was asking for charges to be removed from car parks in his ward.

The independent councillor posed the question: “Can the leader of the Council please provide a specific date for the introduction of Decriminlalised Parking Enforcement?”

The Herald understands plans to introduce charges to Saltcoats town centre car park and car parks around Kilwinning Main Street and in Stevenston will be put on hold for now.

Under the Decriminalised Parking Enforcement (DPE) scheme a local authority is allowed to administer its own parking penalties, including the issuing of Penalty Charge Notices to vehicles. The Council can then retain the income from penalty charges and from on and off street parking to finance the operation, enforcement and adjudication of the DPE regime.

Any surpluses are used firstly for the provision and maintenance of off-street parking facilities.