Parking limits in town centres in North Ayrshire including Largs, Saltcoats and Irvine are set to come into force over the coming months.

This is a consequence of decriminalised parking - which sees the transfer of parking enforcement move from Police Scotland to North Ayrshire Council, which is taking on parking wardens to carry out the measures to the letter of the law.

Decriminalising parking enforcement is a regime which enables the council to issue penalty charge notices to vehicles parking inappropriately.

Parking offences cease to be criminal offences enforced by the police and become civil penalties enforced by the council, under the changes.

There will be a bedding in process before the full system launches on a date which is stil to be confirmed.

At a council budget setting in March this year the level of Penalty Charge Notice was set at the higher level of £100 reducing to £50 if paid within 14 days, and this would increase to £150 if not paid within 28 days.

The transfer of powers to enable North Ayrshire Council to enforce parking offences will be effective from November 3.

Recruitment of the enforcement team is ongoing. 

There will be a period of training and dummy ticketing before formal ticketing commences.

The income from penalty charges assist with financing the operation, enforcement and adjudicatiton of the service.

DPE will provide the council with an increased turnover of parking spaces and improved availability and access for people to get a parking space in our town centres.

It will also improve access for blue badge holders, and therefore improve opportunities and ease of access to local business premises, the council say.

Since the withdrawal of the Traffic Warden Service by the police in 2012, parking violations in North Ayrshire have increased significantly as there is little to no deterrent to control inappropriate parking. 

Councillor Tom Marshall said: "I am glad to welcome the imminent decriminalised parking enforcement ( DPE) across the whole of North Ayrshire.

"DPE powers are needed where there has been a great deal of illegal and unsafe parking on corners, loading bays and disabled spaces. There will be enforcement of waiting times.

"The council will legally take DPE powers in early November and at present are working towards recruiting a team of parking attendants who will enforce force the legislation.

"However, there will be a trial period where dummy ticketing is carried out to help to educate drivers as to where it is legal to park.

"Before the end of the year enforcement will take place with penalties of £100 reduced to £50 if paid within 14 days. These penalties can be appealed to the council with the opportunity to appeal to the Transport Appeals Tribunal. 

"After settling in period, the council may determine if further off-street parking is needing to be provided, and may consider the further payment system for such.

"At the same time will be penalties on pavement parking which can cause difficulties for pedestrians as well as disabled and wheelchair users."

Independent councillor Ian Murdoch said: "While I am not opposed to DPE, as it will make a huge difference to locals being able to park, there are long term aspects to this which cause me concern, particularly in terms of the effect on tourism and where are all the shopworkers and shopkepers are going to park.

"I have mentioned on umpteen occasions that there needs to be alternative long stay parking measures, parking marshals etc. I do welcome DPE but we need an alternative, and the problem now is, that DPE will be coming in very soon, and it will be too difficult to get anything in place."

For Decriminalisation explained, go here https://www.largsandmillportnews.com/news/23713216.largs-parking-problems-resolved-traffic-wardens/