North Ayrshire Council's chief executive has challenged a Reform councillor's claim that council employees are not being issued parking tickets by their colleagues, following figures showing no Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) at several Irvine locations.
Figures show no PCNs at key Irvine spots
At Wednesday's council meeting, Reform councillor Matthew McLean asked Eleanor Collier, Cabinet Member for Green Environment and Economy, how many parking tickets had been issued to cars parked on or around Victoria Roundabout in Irvine, including slips onto Dublin Quay, Cochrane Street, Harbour Road, Boyle Street and Church Street. He also asked how many had been rescinded with no payment.
Collier responded: “The number of Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) issued for these areas are as follows: Boyle Street – 18 PCN’s issued, 1 of which was cancelled. Church Street – 16 PCN issued. Dublin Quay – None issued. Harbour Road – None issued, Cochrane Street – None issued.”
Councillor's concerns and chief executive's response
McLean said he was “very surprised” by the numbers, adding: “I think that everyone who has been there knows that every single day there are cars all over the roundabout, all over the slips to and from it. I pass it every single time when I take my kids to nursery, 10, 15, 20 vehicles.”
He noted that council employees park there in the morning, walk over, and walk back, and that mass emails are issued asking people not to park there when something is on at the church. He added: “A cynic would say we are intentionally avoiding ticketing our own employees. Would the member agree that the introduction of DPE is clearly not acting as a deterrent for poor parking in our area.”
Chief Executive Craig Hatton said: “I am extremely concerned by an allegation that our employees are not issuing tickets to other employees, I find that incredible that would be the case. I am happy to follow up but I do not believe that to be the case and I don’t think it is appropriate that allegations of that nature are made in the Chamber.”
Cabinet member's response
Collier said: “I know the area is congested and there are peak times it is not isolated to this part of North Ayrshire. I will ask the service if they could focus on the area, I will raise the other concerns that Cllr McLean has mentioned but I would also suggest this not a widespread thing.”
She added: “I think the parking enforcement has been pretty successful in my own view over the area and has reduced such parking which is a hazard but I am happy to help focus on the area, check out the allegations and act if deemed necessary.”
