Parking now free at Linden Avenue

Jul 1 2009 by Kaiya Marjoribanks, Stirling Observer Wednesday

FREE parking has been introduced at a poorly used Stirling city centre car park which is at the centre of a long-running row.

Parking charges were temporarily suspended at the under-used Linden Avenue car park as of Monday of this week. The move followed a decision taken by Stirling councillors at a meeting last Thursday.

The 183-space car park has become a “park and walk” facility.

The decision will be reviewed later in the year as part of the Stirling Council city centre parking strategy.

The motion was lodged by Tory councillor Neil Benny and Lib-Dem Ian Brown.

Residents of nearby Colquhoun Street have been campaigning for a change to the current arrangements.

They say parking charges have left the car park vastly underused while city centre workers are choosing to leave their cars parked all day outside the residents’ homes.

Prevented

They say the situation has caused not only parking problems for residents but has prevented maintenance work being carried out to drains and has even created a potential obstruction for emergency vehicles.

Councillor Benny said: “This issue has gone round the houses. I think the case has been made for making the Linden Avenue car park free.”

SNP administration environment portfolio holder Councillor Jim Thomson, warned, however that the expectations of the move might not be met given that the promise of a free car park could displace people from other paid-for parking zones.

He said: “Until we have a thorough overall view of the parking situation in Stirling I don’t think this will do what we expect it to.

“I can only reiterate the advice I have been given from the service, however I can see I am not going to win the vote so I’ll withdraw any objection and let’s see what happens.”