Almost 30 more streets across East Ayrshire are set to be exempt from Scotland’s pavement parking ban after councillors approved a second round of requests from residents and businesses. East Ayrshire Council’s Cabinet agreed to add 28 locations to the list of proposed exemptions following assessments of 89 streets across the authority.
Details of Exemptions and Waiting Restrictions
Sixteen of the approved locations will also require new waiting restrictions, including double yellow lines, to ensure traffic can continue to pass safely. Four further locations will receive waiting restrictions but will not be exempt from the ban. However, councillors were told the additional assessment work has delayed the introduction of the permanent exemption order, with the revised implementation date now pushed back to June 2027 because of the statutory consultation process, potential objections and the installation of new signs and road markings.
Council Approach to Exemptions
Ayrshire Roads Alliance Strategic Manager Barrie McDonnell said officers had received “a significant number of requests from residents, businesses and elected members” since pavement parking enforcement began. He said: “The report demonstrates a balanced approach, approving exemptions only where they are justified.” The report states many requests were refused because roads remained wide enough for vehicles to park on the carriageway, alternative parking was available, or granting an exemption would undermine the aims of the legislation, which is intended to improve accessibility and pedestrian safety.
Councillor Reactions
Councillor Jim McMahon welcomed the recommendations, saying pedestrian safety should remain the priority while recognising exemptions would be needed in some locations. “I think listening to businesses and local residents and revisiting some of these sites is exactly the right thing to do,” he said. He also stressed the importance of ensuring exemptions are clearly marked. “There will be signage and road markings to indicate that these are exemptions because, again, for pedestrian safety it’s really important that they’re aware that there are exemptions in these areas.”
Councillor Linda Mabon sought clarification on how the council would decide which side of a street would receive double yellow lines where partial exemptions are proposed. She also asked whether residents would be able to begin parking on pavements immediately in newly approved locations and whether there would be any further opportunity to challenge decisions.
Implementation and Enforcement
Mr McDonnell said detailed surveys would determine which side of individual streets should be subject to waiting restrictions, taking into account existing parking patterns and road layouts. He confirmed residents affected by the proposals would still be able to object when the statutory exemption order is advertised. “If there are maintained objections as a result of that, we’ll report it back to Cabinet,” he said.
Asked whether motorists could begin using approved exemption areas immediately, he said the council would allow parking in locations where Cabinet had agreed exemptions and would inform parking enforcement officers accordingly. “If there are streets where there is an issue but it justifies the exemption, then we can get that information out there to people that they can start parking on the pavement,” he said. He added that although permanent signs and road markings would not be installed until the legal process is complete, the council would publish plans showing the extent of proposed exemptions to help avoid confusion and discourage indiscriminate parking.
Mr McDonnell also acknowledged the council does not have a budget to strengthen pavements in areas where parking will be permitted, although individual locations could be considered if deterioration created safety concerns.
List of Approved Exemptions
The approved exemptions cover streets across East Ayrshire including Cumnock, Dalmellington, Drongan, Dunlop, Fenwick, Galston, Kilmarnock, Kilmaurs, Muirkirk, New Cumnock, Newmilns and Rankinston, while many other requests were refused following assessment against Transport Scotland’s criteria. Cabinet approved the recommendations unanimously.
A full list of the newly approved exemptions is below:
- Cumnock: Craigens Road, Holland Crescent
- Dalmellington: Townhead
- Drongan: Lane Crescent
- Dunlop: Lugton Road, Main Street
- Fenwick: Kirkton Place
- Galston: Park Road
- Kilmarnock: Blair Street, Broom Place, Calder Place, Croe Place, Cuillin Place, Gardrum Place, Irvine Road (Monroe Avenue to Stevenson Street), Montgomery Place (No. 4 charging bay), McLelland Drive (Wallace Street to Howard Park Drive), Ochil Place, Sidlaw Place, Solway Place, Thomson Street
- Kilmaurs: Townend
- Muirkirk: Lapraik Avenue
- New Cumnock: Cairnhill Place
- Newmilns: High Street
- Rankinston: Kerse Terrace
In addition, new waiting restrictions (including double yellow lines) will be introduced at a number of these locations, while four locations—Portland Terrace, Hurlford; Balgray Avenue, Kilmarnock; Lochnagar Road, Kilmarnock; and Main Street, Ochiltree—will receive waiting restrictions but will not be exempt from the pavement parking ban.
