Largs - Questions over 'illegal' free use of Bellmans Close car park

The Bellmans Close car park was purchased by North Ayrshire Council for £60,000 in 2021 and converted into a pay facility within the town centre.

The car park operates a pay and display system where you pay for your expected parking duration and display you ticket prominently within your vehicle.

The parking tariff is up to one hour - £1.50, up to two hours - £2 and up to four hours - £3.50

Community councillor Patricia Perman said: "The car park in Bellmans Close - it is a ticketed one. And I just checked out of interest to see the situation and nobody has a ticket on their windscreen or anything. The council paid money to purchase the car park and make it a pay facility."

Funding from the car park revenue assists with the costs from the original purchase - and once that is paid off would then generate funds for the cash strapped local authority.

Patricia added that motorists were even using the recently vacated Halfords Auto Repairs service area nearby to park.

Traffic wardens 'will make a difference' - Tom Marshall (Image: North Ayrshire Conservatives)

Conservative councillor Tom Marshall pointed out that there would be a big difference when parking wardens arrive later this year - with £100 fines for people who don't obey the traffic notice for a one hour stay and no return in Largs Main Street, which is designed to free up more spaces in the town centre.

Tom said they would also be enforcing the Bellmans Close car park measures.

Cllr Ian Murdoch has asked for more information from NAC on Bellmans Close car park (Image: NAC)

Independent councillor Ian Murdoch said: "I have already asked about the income of the Bellmans Close car park, and the fact that people don't use the pay facility, as I have seen that for myself. An awful lot of people don't seem to be using it properly."

The News submitted a Freedom of Information which found that Bellman's Close car park brought in £8000 during the past year.

However, both councillors Murdoch and Marshall told the News that they believe the parking facility has lost out financially - and more stringent enforcement will come into play as a result of the decriminalisation of car parking charges.

This will see a charge over from police controlling car park enforcement to North Ayrshire Council, who will bring in traffic wardens who have the power to impose fines.

Cllr Murdoch added: "The decriminalisation of car parking and the impact of traffic wardens will be huge when it is introduced. People don't know what is about to hit them."

He added that parking ambassadors who help guide visitors to available parking elsewhere in town are also being brought in again this summer to help ease the situation.