South Ayrshire Council News

South Ayrshire Council has listened to the concerns raised by members of the public about the car park in Links Road in Prestwick being used for overnight parking. The Council is now taking steps to prevent this happening in the future.

The car park is very popular with locals and people visiting Prestwick, who walk along the promenade, take children to the play area or choose to sit in their car and enjoy the views out to sea.

Councillor Peter Convery, the council’s Portfolio Carrier for Sustainability and Environment issues said: “Increasingly thoughtless people have been parking in the Links Road car park overnight, including travelling people who have gathered there in groups. This was a particular problem last summer when caravans were parked there, taking up valuable parking spaces that could not be used by local people and visitors.

The changes in the car park will involve creating dedicated coach parking areas, closing five access and egress points and installing three lockable swinging height restriction gate posts.

The car park is owned by the Prestwick Common Good Fund, which has a projected accumulated year-end revenue reserve of £348,221 at 31 March 2008. The cost of the alterations to the car park, £24,000, will be funded from the Prestwick Common Good Fund.

The problem of inappropriate and thoughtless parking is not restricted to this car park, others in South Ayrshire have the same problems as the one at Links Road, A comprehensive review of Unauthorised encampments in South Ayrshire is being carried out by Officers from the Social Work, Housing and Health section and a report on the findings of the review will be submitted to a future Panel meeting.