Highland Council’s latest moves to regulate parking in Thurso town centre have stirred up a hornet’s nest.
More than 200 residents and traders turned out on a bitterly cold evening on Tuesday to register their opposition at a public meeting in the Pentland Hotel arranged by Thurso Community Council.
A show of hands from the audience was a firm declaration from residents and those running businesses that they were united against the council’s proposals. Picture: DGS
The proposals include consideration of parking charges at two sites and making parts of Sinclair Street, Brabster Street, Rose Street, Campbell Street and High Street covered by residents’ parking permits between 8am and 6pm.
They were unanimously rejected while many at the meeting also complained that business in the town centre has already been hit by changes introduced in 2021.
The three local Highland councillors who attended, Matthew Reiss, Struan Mackie and Ron Gunn, revealed they have been battling to ease the regulations in place and they all pledged to bring in a regime which fits the needs of local people.
“We’ll continue to fight to get some common sense and for what suits Thurso,” said Councillor Reiss.
“We’ve not been listened to but we are prepared to take on the powers-that-be. We’ll get them to listen and it would be incredible if Inverness tried to overrule the wishes of the community and its local councillors.”
Community council secretary Iain Gregory said the consultation launched last month on the latest proposals has provoked a furious backlash.
All those attending were offered Highland Council maps showing proposed alterations to parking restrictions in Thurso. Picture: DGS
An online protest petition has attracted more than 1000 signatures and “countless” people have expressed their opposition to community councillors. Caithness West Community Council has also made clear it is against the changes.
While accepting the issue is at an early consultative stage, Mr Gregory said: “Proposals have a nasty habit of turning into policy.”
Thurso resident Suzanne Mackenzie was among those to focus on the interest in installing parking meters opposite 1-9 Janet Street and in the car park in Meadow Lane, which the council leases to the Co-op supermarket. Ms Mackenzie said the advantage this would give the Co-op’s competitors could have a “massive” impact on its business and employees.
Councillor Mackie said he and his colleagues oppose any move to introduce parking charges in the town.
Marion Sutherland, from Forss, pointed out that as there is no bus service, meaning that people in her area are reliant on private transport to get into the town. Making it more difficult to park, she said, puts a further burden on them.
She said: “Whoever in Inverness drew up these proposals, have they ever visited Thurso or spoken to the businesses here? They obviously haven’t spoken to the local councillors or the residents. They don’t seem to be listening.”
She added: “I’m quite willing to join a demonstration in Thurso or Inverness or wherever as they need to know we’re here and we don’t want our town centre dying.”
Thurso and Northwest Caithness councillor and town provost Struan Mackie talked about the likelihood of the proposals being implemented. Picture: DGS
Avril Ferrier, from Thurso, voiced concern that the increasing premium put on parking is making it more difficult for people to access important public facilities such as the town library and doctors’ surgeries.
Ms Mackenzie chipped in: “Is the library another facility which is going to end up closing as nobody can park near it? It’s a disgrace.”
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Former Highland councillor Donnie Mackay said the official behind the latest proposals should be invited north to speak with community representatives and shopkeepers.
He said the 2021 changes have caused major problems for town centre businesses and need to be reviewed, while the latest proposals should be scrapped.
“I think this is terrible and that everyone in the room is behind us on this. If they don’t listen, we’ll have to take it further,” he added.
Pentland Hotel owner Andrew Mackay said the parking restrictions brought in during 2021 have been “strangling” the town centre. “It’s making business even harder to do,” he said.
The initial regime limited parking in Princes Street outside the hotel to 30 minutes but that was extended to an hour following representations from local Highland councillors.
Mr Mackay said that it has still affected the hotel’s passing trade.
“You can’t come in and have a leisurely coffee as you can’t leave your car for more than an hour.”
Thurso and Northwest Caithness councillor Ron Gunn speaks at the event. Picture: DGS
He said the restrictions have meant the street outside the hotel is often “desolate”.
“It has definitely affected the vibrancy of the town centre,” he said, adding that there had not been a problem with congestion in the past.
Mr Mackay viewed the current proposals as “absolutely ridiculous”.
Among those most affected by the current regime is Sandra’s Hostel in Princes Street.
Owner George Carson said that for the past three-and-a-half years, he has been protesting about the lack of parking outside his premises.
“We can’t get parked anywhere,” he said. “There’s a taxi rank directly outside and there’s no parking allowed opposite. We’re in a bloody mess.”
Willie McGillivray, commercial director of Navertech Ltd, was concerned no assessment is being carried out on the impact the latest proposals would have on businesses in the town.
Gary Parker and Neil Mackay both outlined the major problems the existing regime is posing for the operation of their businesses in Traill Street.
Mr Parker said the new proposals would lead to more people shopping online and further squeeze local traders. “This is pure madness,” he said.
The restrictions have also been leading to streets off the main shopping areas in Princes Street, Traill Street and Olrig Street being more congested.
Campbell Street resident Stuart Bell said he and his neighbours are already being badly affected.
“Sometimes we can’t get parked. We need something sorted for the residents here.”
A member of Thurso West Church, at left, said the restrictions would be problematic for worshippers and those attending funerals at the town centre premises. Picture: DGS
Kyle Manson, from LRM Trading Ltd, said customers can struggle to park near his potato and vegetable business in Brabster Street. Supporting moves for a root-and-branch review of the regulations, he warned Highland Council: “You’re going to damage the town’s infrastructure and going to kill businesses.”
Ian Carlisle, who runs the Messy Nessy children’s play area and cafe, said his business relies on families being able to park near his base in the town’s pedestrian precinct.
Alan Sparling, session clerk of Thurso West Church of Scotland, said the current regulations have also had an adverse effect on church life.
He described funeral parking as “atrocious”, adding that members of the congregation can struggle to get a parking spot when they come to church on Sunday morning.
Mr Sparling said the proposals, including the residents’ parking permits from 8am to 6pm seven days a week, would make it much more difficult.
Community councillor Louise Smith, a Blue Badge holder, said the existing regime has made life tougher for motorists like her to get a parking spot in the town and she condemned the fresh proposals as seriously flawed.
“The disabled parking that is shown (in the drawings) is completely wrong, I counted 12 mistakes.”
Ms Smith revealed that she recently got a ticket for parking on a single yellow line.
“It was very obvious that I have a wheelchair-ramped vehicle. Why did they ticket somebody who can’t walk?”
Elizabeth Jones, founder of Caithness and Sutherland Respite Campaign, said the parking restrictions are also causing problems for local carers getting parked near their client’s house.
“It can be a total nightmare for them,” said Ms Jones. “They can go round and round searching for a parking space.”
Alastair Ferrier, who chairs the Association of Caithness Community Councils, attended the meeting to give a message of hope to opponents of the current and proposed restrictions.
He said he and his colleagues on Wick Community Council successfully fought plans to impose new parking restrictions and charges proposed for its town centre in 2019.
He said: “We were listened to and in early 2020, the proposal was shelved.”
Mr Gregory said: “People power counts but these things seem to keep materialising from Inverness. It’s one problem after another and they tend to be revenue-raising.”
He believed many of the current and proposed restrictions have been drawn up to deal with a problem that doesn’t exist.
Councillor Mackie, the provost of Thurso, predicted the final proposal would not be firmed up before the summer.
He said: “I believe the current restrictions are completely unsustainable as they currently sit. They are definitely having a negative impact and need to be amended with a degree of urgency.
“They were a mistake and since the (council) election in 2022, the Thurso councillors have been looking to overturn them and get more appropriate measures in place.
“It’s been very frustrating, and we’ve been going round the houses for well over a year-and-a-half trying to find alternatives. I feel we’ve been ignored.”
He added: “Every business that I’ve spoken to has concerns. The town centre is an incredible asset for the town and we need to be protecting the businesses in it and making it easier for people to access its services.”
Councillor Gunn said he and his colleagues have hit a brick wall in trying to get officials to change the regulations.
He believed the current restrictions applying to parking in different parts of Princes Street is “absolutely crazy”.
“It’s so obvious that nobody wants it,” he said. “It’s not going to be forced on us.”
Councillor Gunn added: “We want between two and three hours (parking time) to apply along the whole street.”
Councillor Reiss said: “This is about democracy and ensuring the majority view wins out at the end of the day.”
He favours a “light-touch” policy that ensures the town centre is a busy, vibrant area.
He revealed that local councillors had unsuccessfully sought to relax parking restrictions in the run-up to Christmas.
“We didn’t get an acknowledgement or reply to our request,” said Councillor Reiss.
Councillor Mackie said the proposal will go forward to the Caithness area committee where, he said, the “ultimate” decision will be taken.
He said: “We would seek to ensure that something could be brought forward that the area committee could vote for, something that meets the needs of the community and gets rid of all this silly stuff.”
The consultation on the proposals runs until January 13.
Highland Council has been approached for comment.