Stump up for park parking

DRIVERS who park their car within the 100 kilometres of parkland at the foot of the Pentland Hills could be charged £2 a visit under a new initiative.

City council chiefs are considering introducing the charge at four car parks within the Pentland Hills Regional Park: at Threipmuir, Harlaw, Bonaly and Flotterstone.

Councillors are to be asked to decide whether to introduce a compulsory charge - requiring a traffic regulation order - or an "honesty box" system to collect voluntary contributions.

The charges are being considered as part of attempts to fund the 380,000-a-year bill currently met by the Lothian local councils.

Bob Paterson, secretary of the Friends of the Pentlands group, said: "We did say to the council that we understand the problem: they have no money and they need to raise money or save money. Our big concern is that this might create more costs than it raises because someone has to look after the machines and the money.

"It will discourage people from using the park. That is particularly true of people that walk dogs. If you come once a month you might not mind 2 but if you walk the dog twice a day then you will."

A council consultation into parking charges received 115 responses, with 38 per cent saying they were against the charges and only 23 per cent saying they were in favour, with the remainder undecided.

Among the responses, Sharon Gray of the Colinton Amenity Association, said that enforcement would cause "negative feelings" towards the park, while Ken Shade, chairman of Balerno Community Council, said the charge could be voluntary but "would probably need to evolve to compulsory".

John O'Keefe, area officer for Scottish Natural Heritage, said there would need to be "proper explanation" about what the money would be used for, while also recommending that a voluntary approach would "reduce the risk of displacement".

A report to be discussed by the Pentland Hills Regional Park Joint Committee, which is made up of councillors from the city, Midlothian and West Lothian councils, said a 1 charge would "present a risk of low income levels or even a loss", while a 2 charge would "present the opportunity to raise significant income which could make a substantial difference to the sustainability of services within the park".

David Jamieson, parks and greenspace manager at the city council, said: "Car parking charges were proposed in the context of funding pressures and the need to secure additional sources of revenue in order to sustain visitor management services and facilities within the regional park."