RESIDENTS in Largs have queried why they have been fined for pavement parking in narrow streets when police and council vehicles have done so too.
Motorists fearful of blocking access for other road users say they feel that they have been unfairly penalised after parking enforcement officers issued tickets in the narrow back streets of the town.
Six months into the controversial parking enforcement procedure which requires motorists to obey regulations or face a penalty, locals have voiced concern after a swathe of cars parked in Alexander Avenue, Eastern Avenue and Royal Avenue were fined over recent weekends.
However, pictures submitted to the News have shown both a police van on Friday, November 15, and a council vehicle, on Monday, November 18, illegally parking on a pavement in Royal Avenue much to the consternation of residents.
Ian Fraser said: "I am currently in the process of appealing a parking ticket outside my driveway. Two wheels were on the dropped pavement for access to my driveway because I have a disability space directly opposite it making access difficult.
"If I parked on the road legally, I would block the street. The first response I received from North Ayrshire Council was that was no excuse but Police Scotland and then the council have done it also during the past week.
"I thought I was doing the right thing in not blocking traffic, and I noted the week before a traffic warden walked by and didn't fine the vehicle and I thought common sense had prevailed, but a week later I got ticketed.
"What is the alternative? The road being blocked and other motorists beeping their horns and cars having to reverse down the road?
"The fact that a police van and council car were pavement parking: why is it any different for yourself? I thought I was being courteous to other drivers as otherwise nobody would get by.
"The council have clearly not been visiting streets and assessing them and this is all being done as a ticking the box exercise in an office as anyone who visited the street can clearly see that if you were to park on this side of the avenue you would be blocking the entire street.
"These streets were built for horse and carts and no way are the streets wide enough to park cars on each side without causing a hazard to other drivers."
Roads campaigner Archie Burleigh also contacted North Ayrshire Council on the matter.
He said: "There appears to be a serious issue emanating from the Scottish Government non pavement parking law recently introduced especially in the area around our own Largs Campus.
"I understand a relaxation notice for Alexander Avenue, where parking on the pavement was allowed between the junction of Laverock Drive and Queens Avenue, has very recently been withdrawn.
"The result was that all cars now parked on the roadway off the pavement thus rendering the roadway single lane with no passing places.
"A similar scenario is now apparent on the continuation of Alexander Avenue southwards along Eastern Avenue up to Flatt Road junction.
"The school buses are going to struggle if this situation is not resolved."
Councillor Ian Murdoch told the News he was also pursuing the matter on behalf of residents affected.
The Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 bans pavement parking, double parking and parking at dropped kerbs, with certain exemptions designated by local authorities - for example to ensure safe access for emergency vehicles.
From December 2023, local authorities could begin enforcing the law. This means drivers could be fined £100 for these parking behaviours; reduced to £50 if paid within 14 days.
A North Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: “We cannot comment on individual instances however we can advise that drivers who park on the pavement in contravention of the law, may receive a Penalty Charge Notice.
“It is the driver’s individual responsibility to park in a legal and responsible manner.
“Anyone who believes that a Penalty Charge Notice has been issued in error can appeal through our website.”
The News has been informed that approximately 2.700 roads across North Ayrshire were assessed for exemption, including Royal Avenue, Largs.
Police Scotland have also been contacted on the matter.
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