The new £1 coin has cost council taxpayers in the north a pretty penny already – on replacement parking meters.
A total of 20 compatible machines are being installed in Fort William and on Skye.
Fortunately, the 12-sided coin works okay in other council machines.
But 16 will be changed in Fort William and four on Skye over the next three months.
Fort William businessman Drew Purdon is optimistic of benefits as a result.
“One good thing about their replacement might be that if the machines are up to date they’ll give out change, unlike those around at the moment,” he said.
“In an ideal world there’d be no meters but the council makes too much money from them. The problem is they don’t ringfence it and use the money raised by penalty charges for roads.”
The council confirmed that the bulk of the money is spent on maintaining the service through wages, vehicles to get staff around, their uniforms and equipment.
However, any surplus is used for traffic-related projects.
The new coin entered circulation last month. The round £1 will remain legal until October 15.
The public is being urged to use the old coins or bank them before they are withdrawn from circulation.
A spokeswoman for the council said: “The meters have been ordered and are estimated to take at least three months for delivery and installation.”
Meanwhile, in the Western Isles, the first stage of a plan to make motorists pay to park with any denomination of coin in Stornoway town centre is under way. The only existing charge is a car park in Perceval Square.
Fees are being introduced for parking on South Beach Street – by the Caledonian Hotel and in front of the Star Inn – and within in the Fisherman’s car park on North Beach.
Charges for parking in the Perceval Square car park could increase to match those at the Fisherman’s car park.
The council is also considering charging for parking in South Beach car park in front of the town hall and at the Lewis sports centre. The council hopes to raise an extra £30,000.
A spokesman said: “The reason for implementing this order is to provide regular and greater access for the public to shops and businesses in Stornoway town centre by discouraging long-stay parking within parts of Stornoway town centre.”
