A review of parking in three of Renfrewshire’s towns is to be carried out, with an introduction of parking charges in Renfrew and Johnstone.
Councillors will review the recommendations tomorrow, which contains proposals to streamline Council owned on and off street parking provisions and charges across Renfrewshire.
The idea behind the review is to help attract more shoppers and visitors to the three towns and increase the turnover of parking spaces.
An annual charge for parking permits for around 1,000 residents in Paisley would be introduced to those who live within pay and display zones. It currently costs the Council approximately £50,000 per annum to manage and administer the residents parking scheme and a new charge of around £50 would help to recover the costs of this scheme.
The board will also consider approving the widening out of charges for Council owned street parking bays, as well as car parks in Renfrew and Johnstone. The annual charge for parking permits for residents would also be introduced in these two towns in line with the new charges in Paisley.
Other recommendations include new parking meters in Paisley which will accept cash, card and contactless payment to allow for easier use of pay and display zones at council car parking facilities.
There is also a proposed increase of parking tariffs in Paisley, by 10p for 30 minutes parking up to approximately 50p for 4 hours parking.
Free parking on Saturday and Sundays would remain across Renfrewshire.
If approved, the changes would be introduced in Paisley beginning in April 2018 and Renfrew and Johnstone in 2019.
Councillor Cathy McEwan, convener of the Infrastructure, Land and Environment Policy Board, said: “We want to encourage shoppers and visitors into Renfrewshire and these proposals seek to make it easier for people to visit our town centres and give a boost to local businesses.
“It is important there is a turnover of parking spaces to allow people to drive into the town centre and have the opportunity to leave their car while they visit the shops, which may currently not be available due to long stay parking.
“This, combined with the modernisation of existing meters to accept card payments, should lead to an increased footfall in our larger town centres and be of real benefit to the local economy.”
John Hood, councillor for Johnstone South & Elderslie has vowed that the Labour Party councilors would fight the the new changes.
He said, “I am appalled at the lack of care and thought about our town centres that this represents. Cathy McEwan seems to think that putting charges up is going to attract people to the town when we know that the last time her party was in power the rise in charges she supported damaged our trade. In 2011/12 the SNP raised the fees and Labour brought them down as soon as we were back in charge.
His colleague Councillor Eddie Devine added: “The proposal is flawed as Johnstone and Renfrew are included in this bizarre proposal. It is beyond all reason to think that new, additional charges are going to help the local businesses thrive.”