Inverclyde Council is encouraging residents to have their say on proposed parking plans for the area.

There are plans to improve parking and traffic management in the town centre, and as a result, the local authority has reviewed the existing parking restrictions.

It is now proposing updated traffic regulation orders and are looking for the views of Inverclyde's residents.

Environment and Regeneration Convener Councillor Michael McCormick explained: "The Council's parking plan is designed to reduce congestion in the area. It will also help improve road safety and accessibility for residents and visitors.

"A key part of our parking plans involve reviewing the existing traffic regulation orders in the area. Our roads officers have examined what's in place and put forward five orders. We now want to hear from residents and visitors. Whether you're a driver, passenger, cyclist or walker, parking provision will impact on you and I'd urge you to have your say."


The five traffic regulation orders are:

• Off-street parking places (car parks)

• Inner Greenock

• Outer Greenock

• Port Glasgow, Kilmacolm and Quarrier's Village

• Gourock, Inverkip and Wemyss Bay

The off-street parking places order revokes the existing order relating to car parks and outlines the rules for use of the car parks as well as any time limits or parking charges which will apply.

Most car parks will be free of charge with no limit on duration of parking, except for the Bullring and Cathcart Street West car parks in Greenock, Princes Street in Port Glasgow and Lochwinnoch Road in Kilmacolm, which will all have a maximum waiting limit of two hours applied.

A £1 per day parking charge is proposed in Cathcart Street East (behind the post office), Station Avenue East and West, Roslin Street, West Stewart Street and Hastie Street (all in Greenock), while in Outer Greenock, Port Glasgow, Kilmacolm and Quarrier’s Village and Gourock, Inverkip and Wemyss Bay, the traffic regulation orders replicate the majority of the restrictions currently visible on-street, by way of road markings and traffic signs.

Within Greenock town centre many of the restrictions would remain unchanged with on-street parking limited to 30 minutes. Some areas which currently prohibit waiting will become parking bays with a similar 30 minute limit to the rest of the area. More disabled bays will be added on-street in Greenock Town Centre.

Under the scheme, loading bays would also be introduced to provide specific spaces for businesses to receive deliveries. Cathcart Square will become a restricted zone which will prohibit parking on the square but still permit parking on William Street.

The consultation begins on 15 July and will run until 5 August 2013.

(JP/CD)