Breaking: Residents won’t be consulted on new…

The council is set to introduce rules on 13 more streets.

A call to communicate with neighbours and fans before implementing additional parking restrictions in the roads surrounding Rugby Park has been rejected.

Last year, a traffic order was implemented to regulate parking in the vicinity on matchdays, with some waiting limitations permanent and others only on matchdays.

East Ayrshire Council will now introduce new matchday waiting restrictions on Arrothill Drive, Galrigside Road, Harperland Drive, Rowanhill Place, Mount Avenue, Mount Place, Holmes Road, Holmes Crescent, Fairlie Avenue, Westmoor Crescent, Blackwood Avenue, Scott Crescent, and Scott Road.

However, as the council has opted to introduce the new restrictions via a temporary traffic order while considering a permanent solution this does not require public consultation.

The fact that the residents set to be affected by the new order would not be given the opportunity to be consulted in advance irked Labour councillor Barry Douglas who called on a consultation to be undertaken immediately.

He also argued for a broader engagement than the statutory consultation would require.

Cllr Douglas questioned, “Have we thoroughly talked with the residents on this matter before we begin implementing it?

“My proposal would be that we do a field consultation with residents impacted before we do anything else.”

“Once again, it appears that this council is taking action now and then soliciting feedback later.

“For permanent parking restrictions, the only statutory necessity for consultation is a Traffic Regulation Order for the affected area.

“However, we wanted a full public consultation exercise, beyond just the residents but including fans and stakeholders, now to get the views of all involved to help shape any parking restrictions so that residents and fans can reach a position that the majority can back.”

Council leader Douglas Reid stated that the restrictions imposed last year had a good influence on safety.

However, he agreed that parking and traffic safety issues remained a source of concern.

He said:There is certainly pressure and we know that the residents have been very patient.

Chief Governance Officer David Mitchell said that the Cabinet was being asked if it wanted an informal consultation prior to the new temporary order.

This, he warned, may result in ‘duplicate’ because a statutory consultation would still be required if the limits were made permanent as part of the order issued last year.

Cllr Reid agreed that public consultation should extend beyond what is required under statute.

Councillor Reid proposed conducting a further consultation encompassing all of the restrictions after 12 months.

Cllr Douglas proposed an amendment to start the consultation immediately.

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