Oban’s parking woes are likely to be a major topic at a public meeting to discuss the town’s development next week.
New traffic regulation orders (TROs) have introduced parking charges at a number of previously free council car parks.
And ever since, the community council has been flooded with complaints that residential streets with no metered parking have become chock-a-bloc with cars while the now paid for public car parks lie empty.
Oban Community Council chairwoman Marri Malloy said: “The thing I can’t understand is why they started charging at the Lochavullin and Longsdale car parks.
“All it has done is leave them empty. They aren’t generating any income.
“Residents are complaining that people are parking outside their doors and blocking their driveways.
“People are leaving their cars there and making the short walk to the town centre.
“We want to know from the public what they want us to do.”
The town’s parking problems will be brought up at a meeting on Wednesday, September 18 in the Corran Halls from 7pm.
Discussions will include the Oban Strategic Development Framework, which will form part of planning guidance.
Argyll and Bute Council brought the new charging regime in last year but has already been forced to back down over charges on Iona and Mull after the communities threatened legal action.
Mrs Malloy has questioned whether the Oban TROs are similarly flawed.
However a council spokeswoman said: “We’ve considered the other TROs and no further action is required in relation to those.
“We will however of course apply lessons from this experience to any future TROs and develop our community engagement practices.”