Parking zones: 'New approach smacks of inconsistency'

THERE will be mixed feelings among residents living in some parts of the city over the council's decision not to increase all suggested parts of the current controlled parking zone.

There will be some who will be delighted not to face the prospect of paying to park in their own streets and others who will rue the missed opportunity to chase away fly parkers taking up spaces.

While the council has been happy in recent years to invest sums in expanding the zone it is strange that it is now hesitating at paying £2.5m to expand it further – when it is practically guaranteed a regular revenue stream from both permits and fines. Is this an admission that the scheme is already too vast and that there is no justifiable case for expanding it beyond the current boundaries into all the recommended additional areas?

It would suggest that while the council is happy to continue to gather in revenue from those who break the parking regulations – £20m alone in 2007 largely due to the enlargement of the zone – it appears it is no longer willing to rubber-stamp the creation of further zones, even where there is a demand.

While few would like to see residents from all suburbs from the edge of the city centre to the bypass having to pay to park outside their own homes, this new approach smacks somewhat of inconsistency.

Or is the council ditching a strategic plan to shy away from making an unpopular decision to raise the price of permits even further to pay for it in the short term?

The right decision
ALTHOUGH it is not ideal to have Princes Street looking like a building site during the summer festivals, when visitor numbers are at their highest, the council's decision to proceed with tram works uninterrupted is the right one.

Most people will understand that delivering such a vast project entails major construction work and it is far more important that this is completed in time for Christmas and the New Year festivities.

To break for August will not only delay the project further but will inevitable lead to an increase in costs – and neither should be allowed to happen.

From a retailers point of view, as the recession began to bite last Christmas many had a pretty miserable festive period and this pattern for many has continued. They deserve a break during their most important sales period from all the disruption that many have already endured.