Angela Crawley MP and Christina McKelvie MSP have today called on the South Lanarkshire Council to implement changes to the town centre parking regime in Hamilton.

Responding to the council’s consultation, both of Hamilton’s parliamentarians called for:

• Duke Street carpark to return to pay on exit
• Free short-term car-parking to be implemented on Quarry Street
• No charges after 3pm on weekdays and an investment in an online app to pay for parking.

This follows the a decision by locally elected members to commission an independent transport consultant to review parking in the town centre. Once the review is complete, the consultants will draw conclusions and make recommendations to Councillors.

Christina and Angela have campaigned for town centre regeneration for a number of years and published a report in 2016 making recommendations to improve Hamilton’s fortunes.

Commenting, Angela & Christina said:

“We are delighted that the council have commissioned experts to review the parking provision within Hamilton town centre.

“If we are to see lasting regeneration in the town, we need to assess all of the barriers to people visiting Hamilton.

“Through several consultations, we know that the parking management system is not working and whilst we understand the merits behind some form of charging, the system in place now is not working.

“The recommendations that we made to the consultants are reasonable, affordable and have the potential to increase footfall in the town.