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Richard Lochhead

Moray SNP News

SNP CRITICAL OF ELGIN PARKING CHARGES DECISION

12/12/2017  

SNP Councillor for Elgin City South, Cllr Graham Leadbitter, has criticised the failure of Tory and Independent Administration to back the views of the over 10k people who signed the Elgin BID petition against increasing parking charges.

At a previous Economic Development & Infrastructure Services Committee Cllr Leadbitter had also argued against the increase in parking charges pointing to the failure of the proposals to tackle the major issue of on-street parking.

In today’s meeting Cllr Leadbitter’s motion not to implement the changes in car parking charges, and to carry out further work and consultation to tackle the on-street parking issue, was seconded by Labour Councillor for ElgiN City South John Divers.

The committee voted 5-5 but the Administration Chair of the Committee used his casting vote to override the concerns expressed by Councillors Leadbitter and Divers.

Speaking after the decision Cllr Graham Leadbitter said:

“Today’s decision blatantly ignores the concerns of the over ten thousand people who have backed Elgin BID’s fight against the increase in parking charges.

“The doubling of parking charges for 2 hour parking in most of Elgin’s city centre car parks is a particular blow and it will discourage people from spending time on Elgin’s High Street.

“In addition the introduction of charges and Elgin Railway Station discourages people from shifting from road to rail and will push even more vehicles onto neighbouring residential streets.

“Our on-street parking issues in Elgin have got barely a mention despite the fact that this was one of the main reasons for the parking review in the first place and it was one of the main issues brought up in the consultation.

“They are using Elgin’s car parks as a cash cow and that was never the purpose of this review.”

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