Pay and Display parking nearing for Cairngorms National Park’s most popular beauty spot
The controversial introduction of Pay and Display parking at the Cairngorms National Park’s busiest beauty spot is nearing.
Highland Council is scheduled to bring in the parking fees in and around Loch Morlich and Glenmore later this Spring.
However, the local authority did dilute its proposals last summer following a public backlash.
The costs of the parking tickets have been lowered from the charges originally proposed and a new bottom rate three hours stay for £3 introduced rather than the previously proposed one hour of parking for £2.
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One of the biggest climbdowns was an end to a proposed ban on overnight parking at the new Pay and Display bays.
Much of the Glenmore stretch of the Cairngorm ski road will be paid for parking with the rest of the route being designated as no waiting zones.
A Highland Council spokesperson told the Strathy: “The Traffic Order for the off-street parking in Glenmore is currently out to consultation closing tomorrow (Monday), the ticket machines for on and off-street parking arrived last week and these are awaiting installation.
“The aim is to have all the works completed late April or early May.”
There will be a discounted parking permit for residents of Badenoch and Strathspey.
The Pay and Display restrictions will be in force from March 1 to October 31 in the future.
The initial public consultation on the parking plans provoked a big backlash with 83 objections eventually being lodged.
Shane Manning, the local authority’s principal traffic officer, later told local Highland councillors the restrictions had been ‘altered and reduced in severity’ from the original proposals as a result.
On the reason for the move, council officials have said: “Due to increased demand by visitors to the C1126 lochside area of Glenmore, officers were asked to introduce traffic management provisions to tackle inappropriate parking and measures for managed parking on the roadside.”
The council has also pledged to to enforced the new restrictions once they come into force.
There are rarely any council traffic management officers on patrol in the strath and police no longer employ traffic wardens.
