Free parking is expected to be rolled out in car parks in towns across Aberdeenshire in an attempt to attract more local shoppers.
Visitors to Banchory, Banff, Ellon, Fraserburgh, Huntly, Inverurie, Oldmeldrum, Peterhead, Stonehaven and Turriff could soon all benefit from at least half an hour’s worth of free parking – with even bigger benefits at the weekend. The proposals, which will be considered by the council’s infrastructure services committee next week, come after a lengthy review of the region’s parking arrangements.
Each of the six area committees put forward suggestions that would benefit their town the most, varying from taking away pay and display in the run-up to Christmas in Fraserburgh, making parking free in the St Mary’s car park in Banff every Saturday, and taking away charges in Turriff and Huntly’s Gordon Street and Nelson Street car parks.
All councillors also agreed to a free parking period for all motorists – ranging from 30 minutes in Stonehaven, Inverurie and Ellon, to 45 minutes in Banchory, to an hour in Banff and Peterhead, where parking will also be free after 3pm.
On Thursday, members of the infrastructure services committee will be asked to approve the plans, which will come with a rule that motorists do not return for two hours after the free period to ensure turnover in busy car parks. Councillors will also be asked to approve the introduction of a £1.20 charge for up to two hours of parking, taking away the option of paying 60p for up to an hour.
In a report Stephen Archer, director of infrastructure services, tells councillors the change in tariff is necessary to avoid confusion among those making the most of the free parking period.
He states: “If the 0-1 hour tariff of 60p remains, it will likely cause confusion in some towns (where we are proposing a free 30-minute parking period) or be redundant in others (where we are proposing a free one-hour parking period). It is therefore proposed to introduce a wider first tariff level to cover the period of 0-2.”
Other changes include taking away pay and display at Aden, Balmedie, Haddo and Houghton country parks and asking visitors for a donation.
Organisers of events held in car parks, such as Farmers Markets, could also be charged £250 for a permit.