The first details of a planned roll-out of parking restrictions in the Highlands has laid bare the extent of their reach.
Official proposals will target some of the north’s most popular tourist spots and most of the area’s outlying towns.
Highland Council took over parking enforcement from police traffic wardens in 2016, rolling out Decriminalised Parking Enforcement (DPE) in Inverness and Fort William, employing 11 parking enforcement officers and using income from enforcement activity and parking services to fund the posts.
Back in 2017, the Press and Journal revealed that the enforcers are handing out tickets at a rate of one every 24 minutes, “earning” over £200,000 in the first seven months of the scheme.
And now, the council wants to extend parking restrictions in Alness, Brora, Dingwall, Grantown on Spey, Invergordon, Kyle of Lochalsh, Kyleakin, Mallaig, Nairn, Scrabster, Tain, Thurso, Ullapool,Wick and multiple parts of Skye.
Inverness parking restrictions will be also extended to include ‘no waiting at any time’ in Bught Lane, Bught Drive, Bught Avenue and Bught Road.
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The council has started a consultation process on its proposals, asking the public to submit any objections in writing in less than three weeks.
Tourist hotspots affected in Skye include Broadford, Dunvegan, Portree, Storr and Sligachan.
In Storr, these include restrictions around the new car park to stop people parking in passing places to avoid charges.
Fiskavaig resident Mike Shield said he has witnessed dangerous parking around Sligachan.
He said: “Tourists like to visit the waterfall there, and I have seen coaches drop passengers off on double yellow lines on the bend of the junction with Dunvegan road. When I challenged one driver about it, he was pretty abusive and simply turned the coach around and parked it on the other side of the road.
“We would love a traffic warden, though I doubt if we’ll get one.”
Skye councillor John Finlayson said : “I receive many complaints about dangerous and irresponsible parking across the island and hopefully the introduction of DPE will help to manage things in different communities and at various tourist hotspots.
“Most of the plans have already been discussed with communities and the fact that the consultation process is open until 15th February allows for further feedback from the communities involved.”
In Easter Ross, local councillor Maxine Smith also welcomed the proposals.
She said: “This is about getting the streets tidied up, ie the High St in Invergordon where it is chaotic in the cruise season.”
Nairn residents said there were some notable omissions in their plan.
Brian Holmside said: “There are no restrictions along Waverley Road at all. I drive the community bus along there, and parking causes real problems.
“Also no parking restrictions along Lochloy Road except right at the end near the traffic lights at Scotmid. That road gets horribly jammed at peak times with commuters.”
The council’s proposals can be seen at www.highland.gov.uk/parking under Traffic Order Consultations.
