Review of car parking frequently asked questions

East Ayrshire Council, like all councils, is facing a period of unprecedented change. Since 2017, we have had to reduce our budget by £32 million which has meant looking at different ways of how we deliver services with and for our communities.

Parking has long been an issue in East Ayrshire and one that we know many of our residents feel strongly about. As part of the Council’s budget setting process, a range of other proposals to extend parking charges were also endorsed by Cabinet, and it was agreed that these should be the subject of more detailed consultation and engagement with communities and other interested stakeholders.

The car parking review covered the following proposals:

• Introduce off-street car parking charges for Saturday parking
• Extend the enforcement period in Kilmarnock for on-street parking charges from 9am-5pm until 8am-6pm
• Introduce additional on-street parking spaces in Kilmarnock
• Introduce a free residents’ parking scheme in Kilmarnock with a £1.50 all day charge for non-residents
• Introduce on-street parking and off-street car parking charges in Stewarton and Cumnock
• Introduce on-street parking charges in Galston and Mauchline
• Establish a Community Led Regeneration Fund to support town centre regeneration

We consulted and engaged with our communities and stakeholders during April and May 2019. This included an online survey and engagement events in each of the communities mentioned in the proposals.

Communities themselves also undertook their own consultations. These included:

• Kilmarnock Standard poll
• Postcard campaign in Cumnock
• Facebook group – Stewarton’s voice
• Galston Petition

We received a large number of responses to the consultation and we are grateful to everyone who took the time to give us their views. The consultation generated the following responses:

• Community events:  290 attendees
• Online survey:  3006 responses
• Cumnock postcards:  153 returns
• Stewarton Facebook poll:  1200 participants
• Galston petition:  2435 signatures
• Kilmarnock and Cumnock Business Representatives meetings

As well as the issue of car park charges, the consultation also revealed concerns about a number of other parking related matters, including:

• occupancy levels in off-street car parks in Cumnock and Stewarton
• illegal parking in towns
• effectiveness of parking enforcement arrangements

In light of these concerns, parking surveys were carried out in Cumnock and Stewarton between June and November 2019, to help us understand the extent of the parking problems highlighted in the original consultation.  

With the exception of the Town Hall Car Park in Cumnock, the results showed that occupancy levels at all of the car parks in which we proposed to introduce charges in Stewarton and Cumnock were in excess of 85% at peak times. This indicates that charging would be an effective means of stimulating the turnover of car parking spaces.

Within the parking industry, 85% car park occupancy is considered to be the figure at which operational capacity has been reached. Beyond this level of usage, customers might find it difficult to find a vacant space, which could add to journey times and increase driver frustration. This can deter customers from using car parks which are operating at or near capacity and can result in damage to the economic viability of town centres. The overall goal of a parking and charging policy is to ensure that there is constant parking availability in our town centres.

Feedback received during the consultation on parking shows that there is a growing awareness of the green agenda and the need to change our behaviour to tackle global climate change. Parking charges can be effective in that they may encourage people to switch to public transport and active modes of travel such as cycling and walking.

Yes, many of our original proposals have been changed based on feedback and concerns raised by our communities. Some new proposals have also been included to encourage people to visit our town centres after 3pm.

We fully understand that many residents will not agree with all of the revised proposals and that there is no one solution that will suit everyone. Taking into account the challenges around car park occupancy levels, we believe that these revised proposals are appropriate. They include a range of concessions to the original proposals which take into account your views, and those of the wider business community.

These include:

• a reduction in the proposed extension of the charging period from 8am-6pm to 9am-6pm
• the trial of a ‘Free After Three’ car park to increase late afternoon footfall
• the introduction of a transferable on-street parking ticket in Kilmarnock for multiple stop use
• the removal of proposals to introduce on-street parking charges in Cumnock, Stewarton, Galston and Mauchline
• the removal of the Town Hall car park from charging proposals in Cumnock

• Off-street car parking charges are proposed for re-introduction on a Saturday, 9am – 6pm. Discussions with the business community in Kilmarnock highlighted an issue with the availability of premium town centre parking spaces for Saturday shoppers. The re-introduction of parking charges on a Saturday would help to ensure the regular turnover of car parking spaces.
  
  
• The on and off street parking charging period would be extended by an hour in the evening and be applied from 9am – 6pm, six days a week. The enforcement period would no longer be extended by an hour in the morning. This is in response to concerns raised by the business community on the potential impact of charges on early morning trade.
  
  
• A ‘Free After Three’ free parking scheme is proposed at the Queen Street (Former Wilkos) car park. This is included at the request of the Kilmarnock business community and is intended to increase town centre foot fall and stimulate trade during a traditionally quiet time in the day.
  
  
• A transferable on street parking ticket would be introduced in Kilmarnock. This is included at the request of the Kilmarnock business community and would allow shoppers to visit multiple venues around the town using a single ticket.
  
  
• 33 additional on-street parking bays would be created at Old Irvine Road, Woodstock Street and Park Street.
  
  
• Residents’ Parking Scheme for streets on the outskirts of Kilmarnock town centre. Parking surveys and detailed engagement would be carried out with residents in these streets to help with the creation of a free residents’ parking scheme, to be funded through charging non-residents.
  
  
• Residents’ Parking Scheme – pay and display zone. A separate permit scheme would be prepared for town centre parking zones which would replace the existing system, based on similar schemes in neighbouring authorities.  This would support our ambitions to encourage more town centre living, recognising the parking needs of town centre residents.

These proposals are subject to Traffic Regulation Order amendments or revocations. It’s therefore possible that these changes would not come into effect for another 6-12 months.

• Off-street parking charges are proposed for Tanyard, Ayr Road and Townhead car parks in Cumnock.  These car parks have above 85% occupancy at peak times and the introduction of charges would help to stimulate turnover and increase the availability of spaces.
  
  
• A ‘Free After Three’ free parking scheme is proposed at the Townhead car park. This would help to increase town centre foot fall and stimulate trade during a traditionally quiet time in the day.
  
  
• No charges are proposed at the Town Hall car park in Cumnock. This would remain free to help address some of the concerns expressed by the business community about the availability of alternative parking in Cumnock for town centre workers.

All of these proposals are subject to Traffic Regulation Order amendments or revocations, and it’s therefore possible that these changes would not come into effect for another 6-12 months.

• Off-street parking charges are proposed at Avenue Square and Hamilton Gardens. These car parks have 100% occupancy at peak times and the introduction of charges would help to encourage turnover and increase the availability of spaces.
  
  
• A ‘Free After Three’ free parking scheme is proposed at the Hamilton Gardens car park. This would help to increase town centre foot fall and stimulate trade during a traditionally quiet time in the day.

All of these proposals are subject to Traffic Regulation Order amendments or revocations, so it may be the case that these changes would not come into effect for another 6-12 months.

The proposals for introducing on-street parking charges in Galston will not be taken forward.

The issue of illegal parking and the enforcement of existing parking restrictions is being addressed, in consultation with community representatives, by the Head of Roads using his powers to amend existing Traffic Regulation Orders.

The proposals for introducing on-street parking charges in Mauchline will not be taken forward.

The issue of illegal parking and the enforcement of existing parking restrictions is being addressed, in consultation with community representatives, by the Head of Roads using his powers to amend existing Traffic Regulation Orders.

If all of these proposals are accepted and implemented, it’s estimated that they could generate an income of around £344k per year. This is £250k less than the income we expected to generate from the original proposals. We will use this money to continue to invest in our roads and infrastructure.  

The proposal to establish a Community Led Regeneration Fund will no longer be pursued. This is because the concessions to the original proposals will significantly reduce the levels of income anticipated and consequently the level of funding that would be available for investment in community regeneration.

We know that the introduction of parking charges can result in vehicles simply moving to other areas of town centres where charges are not applied and this can sometimes have an adverse impact on neighbouring residential areas.  We therefore realise that it would be necessary to monitor and assess the impact of these proposals, and to take appropriate action to respond to any concerns raised. 

The impact on town centre residents and businesses in Cumnock and Stewarton would also need to be carefully monitored with consideration given to the use of bespoke permits to prevent any adverse impacts that could arise from these proposals.  

An evaluation of the effectiveness of the ‘Free after Three’ trial would also need to be carried out.  A  report  on  the  impact  of  this  year-long  trial  would  be presented to Cabinet in due course.