The Kintyre Forum

Following on from the article on the front page of the Campbeltown Courier last Friday does anyone have any thoughts on the possible introduction of pay and display for parking in Campbeltown Town Centre?

Do we get enough value for money from the price we pay on our road tax?? Mabe once they get the roads sorted out then they can charge for parking?

There's pay and display at inverary. How many people have you saw putting money in the machines there? I know if I stop for the loo there I don't pay - and neither does anyone else! I've looked on other car windscreens there and have never seen a display ticket on any car! Then, I've never seen a warden or policeman there to enforce this law. If this goes ahead in the town, will there be policemen on foot patrol to enforce it here? Will they employ more police here to cover this? If this does go ahead I for one will be parking out of town. I live out of town and need my car to get to work but it won't be worth working if I have to pay to park. I'm sure there are a lot more like me.

This idea is one way of driving even more people away from the town centre. Just what the town needs!

EileenH wrote: If this goes ahead in the town, will there be policemen on foot patrol to enforce it here? Will they employ more police here to cover this? If this does go ahead I for one will be parking out of town. I live out of town and need my car to get to work but it won't be worth working if I have to pay to park. I'm sure there are a lot more like me.

Is the wee traffic warden still not creeping about .She'll be run off her feet then .

EileenH wrote:There's pay and display at inverary. How many people have you saw putting money in the machines there? I know if I stop for the loo there I don't pay - and neither does anyone else! I've looked on other car windscreens there and have never seen a display ticket on any car! Then, I've never seen a warden or policeman there to enforce this law. If this goes ahead in the town, will there be policemen on foot patrol to enforce it here? Will they employ more police here to cover this? If this does go ahead I for one will be parking out of town. I live out of town and need my car to get to work but it won't be worth working if I have to pay to park. I'm sure there are a lot more like me.

As far as I know it will be up to the council to enforce pay & display the police will have nothing to do with it.

So, are the council going to employ people to go round checking everyone's windscreens ? They won't be making any money from it if they have to create new jobs to enforce it. The wee traffic warden is still around jdcarra but I haven't seen much of her lately. My husband has a business in bolgam street where folk park in the street and hand their keys in for him to take their car in when he is ready to work on it. Imagine the parking costs added to the cost of repair! Also, the staff of the council offices there are parked all day. Imagine their costs! There are no car parks in the town to speak of. The one in burnside square usually has cars owned by residents in it. Would they have to pay to park at their homes? I know I wouldn't be happy about it if I lived in town.

I remember when Inverary started charging for parking. We used to stop there but not anymore. I grudge paying for parking and for the toilets. I know of a few people who also do likewise and now drive on and through.

I know Campbeltown is a bit different location wise as you don't really pass through it to get to another destination, as with the likes of Inverary, Oban and Lochilphead. However, i think it would be disastrous for the town. People would travel in probabaly less, stay for a shorter period of time or avoid altogether. The town needs to encourage people to go and spend money within the local shops and this will deter them.

I personally enjoy going to Campbeltown, and as a family we spend quite a lot between fuel, food and lunches etc. Should the council introduce this, then i think it would be another bad decision by the council of which there have been many.

Another reason? When Tesco's opens their car park will be free. Pay to shop at the 'local owned' stores? Not when you can get all your bits and pieces with free parking thrown in....and then if the gas prices are better....a one stop shop!

I am totally against pay and display but surely this is an example of why the council are thinking about it.

EileenH wrote:My husband has a business in bolgam street where folk park in the street and hand their keys in for him to take their car in when he is ready to work on it. Imagine the parking costs added to the cost of repair!

Don't think so! The owner of the vehicle, who pays road tax, leaves it legally parked. My husband drives it into his garage, repairs it and the customer comes into the garage and collects it. This isn't every customer, only ones that leave their car in bolgam street on their way to work. Their car may not be booked in til the afternoon. He's not a miracle worker who can repair every car booked in first thing in the morning. Neither does he have his own private car park to store these vehicles. Same as any customer going into a shop to buy a paper or a loaf etc. That's what we pay our road tax for!

Here is something for you all to think about.....I visit once a year around the time of the Southend games. We come and spend freely for around 10/14 days. Town, local pubs, food establishments, pound shops, bookies, local shops and out at Southend(where we stay) we support both the Argyle arms and Munro stores/diner.

Tbh its probably because we have our "holiday head on" or because we are "townies" that we come to the "wee toon" everyday. After all it is an 11 mile trip! and we, more often that not have no real need to visit that often, other than to pass time and have a browse.

The crux of the posting is......I "have!!!!" to come into the town for shopping/messgaes and both can be done at the CO-OP or Tescos, which both(atm) provide free parking(as does the town atm).....

Do I really need to walk around the town everyday parting with my hard earnt if im charged for the priviladge?

kind regards Jeff.

PS...if im off beam with speeling(in dyslexic) or areas of charging, then be gentle

We usually park around the harbour, is that going to be one of the pay and display car parks?

Me too, that's one place they will target. I just cannot believe they (the council) are thinking about it. A vibrant towm-yes, maybe. But Campbeltown. The place is on its knees. I have no pleasure in saying that. I want the place to prosper. Can the council not do something to attract tourists and locals rather than deter people from coming into town?

EileenH wrote:

howlsatthemoon wrote:I am totally against pay and display but surely this is an example of why the council are thinking about it.

EileenH wrote:My husband has a business in bolgam street where folk park in the street and hand their keys in for him to take their car in when he is ready to work on it. Imagine the parking costs added to the cost of repair!

Don't think so! The owner of the vehicle, who pays road tax, leaves it legally parked. My husband drives it into his garage, repairs it and the customer comes into the garage and collects it. This isn't every customer, only ones that leave their car in bolgam street on their way to work. Their car may not be booked in til the afternoon. He's not a miracle worker who can repair every car booked in first thing in the morning. Neither does he have his own private car park to store these vehicles. Same as any customer going into a shop to buy a paper or a loaf etc. That's what we pay our road tax for!

Without being controversial, and I'm honestly not But howlsatthemoon has a valid point - not about your husband's business but the problem with parking in the town centre in relation to businesses, places of work etc. One of the biggest fundamental problems we have with parking in the town centre is the number of people who work in the town centre who park and leave their cars all day, every day parked outside their place of work. I'd quite happily see pay and display introduced in Bolgam Street just to see some of the wans in my work place walk the length of themselves!! (oh, I will be popular now.... )

Like howlsatthemoon I don't support the pay and display concept either but I think the likes of the traders association have to look at the depth of the issue and try and tackle it themself too. We can't complain about the lack of parking in the town centre but just leave our cars there all day, every day just because it is convenient for work.

The Council spent considerable resurce a couple of years ago reporting on the parking patterns in Campbeltown but I'm not sure if it ever saw daylight - it would be interesting to find the outcome of it. I wonder if one of our Councillors can shed any light on it?

As mentioned I don't support the proposals but just trying to add to the debate. And before anyone, mentions it, yes, I'm not allowed the car as the wife has it!