COMMUNITY chiefs in Helensburgh have written to Argyll and Bute Council asking for car parking charges to be suspended in the area during the run-up to Christmas.
Norman Muir, convener of Helensburgh Community Council (HCC), wrote to the authority following discussion on shopping experiences in the town during the festive season.
The proposal has gained the unanimous support of HCC, with the free section of the Burgh’s pier car park currently closed for construction of the town’s new waterfront leisure centre.
It is also suggested that the proposal – which would last from Monday, December 14 to Christmas Eve – could appeal to the other three areas of Argyll and Bute.
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Mr Muir said: “At the October meeting of the Helensburgh Community Council discussions focussed on the approaching festive season and how the shopping experience in the town could be made as attractive and inclusive as possible, despite the continuing Covid pandemic.
"We are fortunate in having a number of retailers within the community council and were able to lean heavily on their retail experience in the town.
"The severe curtailment of parking within the town centre due to the construction of the leisure centre has impacted on the retail footfall and is a constant source of annoyance among residents. This tends to be exacerbated by the increase in shopping activity in the run-up to Christmas.
"A consensus developed at the meeting that a suspension of parking fees in all the car parks in Helensburgh from December 14-24 would be a significant boost to the morale of people in the area and reflect very positively on Argyll and Bute management.
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"Although the proposal gained unanimous support from the community council and has been forwarded for consideration, the universality of its appeal and application to the other three areas in Argyll and Bute is self-evident.
"We would therefore commend this proposal to suspend parking charges in car parks from December 14-24 for your positive agreement.”
A council spokesperson replied: “We have been working hard over recent months to do all we can to support local businesses to re-open and trade safely and successfully, in line with national guidance.
“Making changes to parking charges, even on a temporary basis, does require formal agreement by our elected members.”
A similar arrangement has been proposed in Paisley from December 1 to January 3 and is due to be debated by Renfrewshire councillors this week.
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