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Broadford businesses upset after parking charges introduced on their road

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Broadford businesses are fuming after local councillors approved car parking charges on their road.

Pay & Display machines were installed on Ford Road in the Skye village two years ago.

They have remained out of use ever since, but earlier this week, the local authority finally approved their implementation.

A Highland Council spokesman said the community had approached the council three years ago with concerns about the street being used by people car-sharing, going on holiday and leaving  few vacant spaces for businesses.

But the businesses responded that they weren’t consulted and the impact on their staff and trade could be substantial.

Isle of Skye Candles owner James Robertson has two businesses on Ford Street.

He said: “It is such an overreaction to one or two busy summers.

“Occasionally, you might have to park a bit further away, but you would always get within 300 yards.

“The machines will be a deterrent to potential customers who are generally heading to Portree or Storr.

“They will see them and decide not to bother.”

The council has increased the period of free parking from half an hour to an hour after local feedback, but Mr Robertson says visitors will not stop long enough to see that.

The move also affects small complementary therapy business Health Oasis.

Owner Sonja Eckl-Riel employs ten therapists during the week, and said the maximum three-hour stay would inconvenience the therapists and their clients.

She said: “They will have to clock watch to make sure they don’t go over the three hours, which doesn’t give them the proper time to focus on their clients.

“We don’t understand why people who live and work here have to pay the same as tourists.”

Architect Mark Womble of Wittets also practices on Ford Road and described the charges as ‘a cynical money-making exercise.’

He said: “We have parking space round the back, but I couldn’t ask my employees to pay those charges if we didn’t.”