Candidates put parking first

VOTERS in some of Edinburgh’s busiest areas are to be canvassed by a new campaign to streamline the capital’s notorious parking regulations.

Four independent candidates yesterday confirmed they were standing for election in key wards, and promised to create more parking spaces for residents and help local traders. The announcement will bring the local election campaign to life in Edinburgh, where traffic congestion, parking fines and potential road tolls have become explosive issues.

Led by a businessman, Brian Ferrier, the group will contest the crucial Stockbridge, Dean, Tollcross and New Town wards - all of which have been affected by the council’s road policies.

It recently emerged that 10,680 parking permits have been issued to residents in Edinburgh, with only 7,004 available spaces.

Mr Ferrier, 46, who is standing for the group in the New Town ward, one of the most congested areas of the city, described the council’s policies as "bureaucracy gone mad".

He said: "The council makes more than 1 million in permit charges for spaces which don’t exist. How can people be fined for parking outside permit spaces which are oversubscribed?"

The group’s other candidates are David Coutts in Dean, John Anderson, Stockbridge, and Alan Cran, Tollcross.

The council’s transport convener, Andrew Burns, said: "Parking is important but I hope voters will think more broadly than in terms of single issues."