Administration savaged after pushing Parking hikes to consultation

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Thousands signed a petition against parking hikes

MORAY COUNCIL’S ADMINISTRATION is using car parking in Elgin as a “cash-cow” according to the leader of the SNP opposition group this evening.

Elgin City South Councillor Graham Leadbitter has fiercely criticised the Administration group for forcing through parking charge increases in Elgin.

That came in a meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee immediately prior to today’s crunch Budget meeting. There, the SNP sought to place a hold on the increases – but failed on a casting vote.

Councillor Leadbitter said that the Conservative and Independent councillors who voted through consultation on the parking charges had little regard for the thousands of people who petitioned against the increases.

It was also clarified that the increases will include the introduction of a £2 daily charge at Elgin Station – a point that was left out of the Council’s official press release on the issue earlier this evening.

Speaking earlier this evening Councillor Leadbitter said: “Today’s decision blatantly ignores the concerns of the over ten thousand people who have backed Elgin BID’s fight against the increase in parking charges.

“The doubling of parking charges for two-hour parking in most of Elgin’s city centre car parks is a particular blow and it will discourage people from spending time on Elgin’s High Street. In addition the introduction of charges and Elgin Railway Station discourages people from shifting from road to rail and will push even more vehicles onto neighbouring residential streets.

“Our on-street parking issues in Elgin have got barely a mention despite the fact that this was one of the main reasons for the parking review in the first place and it was one of the main issues brought up in the consultation.

“They are using Elgin’s car parks as a cash cow and that was never the purpose of this review.”