Is limited parking around Elgin Plainstones a ‘bonkers’ idea?
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Creating a car park around the Plainstones is being mooted as a potential solution to Elgin town centre's traffic problems.
The idea is one of several that have been discussed to try address the issue of illegal parking.
It's thought that Moray Council takes in £800,000 a year from parking charges.
However, in January the local authority unanimously agreed a freeze on parking charges in Elgin to allow discussions to take place.
Talks were held in March between the six councillors who represent Elgin on Moray Council, as well as other senior elected members and local authority officers.
Then, earlier this month, a 'brainstorming exercise' also took place with other stakeholders, including the police, to try and come up with solutions.
The Plainstones car park idea would involve only a handful of bays, with the rest of the area remaining pedestrianised.
Parking problems in the town centre include vehicles being left all day in loading bays as well as on double yellow lines and pavements.
Refurbishment work at the Poundland shop has exacerbated the situation, with cars regularly seen parked on the previously pedestrianised Batchen Street.
Graham Jarvis, a former senior officer on Moray, is now a member of Elgin Community Council.
Mr Jarvis took part in the 'brainstorming exercise' but, speaking at Tuesday's community council meeting, he called the Plainstones idea "bonkers".
Instead, Mr Jarvis called for larger fines for offenders to stop inconsiderate drivers.
He said: "There needs to be some enforcement surrounding car parking in order to change people’s behaviour.
"You can’t just change behaviour. There’s a reason they do it."
Speaking on Tuesday evening, several members of the community council felt aggrieved that Elgin is the only town in Moray where parking charges are imposed.
Richard Dyce said: "It seems to me Elgin is getting picked on."
However Graham Leadbitter, a former leader of Moray Council, argued that introducing parking charges elsewhere could stop people going into town centres to shop.
