LIST YOUR EVENT FOR FREE

Free parking pilot to be introduced in Paisley town centre

Free weekday parking for up to three hours could soon be available in selected Paisley town centre car parks – if plans for a pilot scheme are approved by councillors later this month.

Free parking pilot to be introduced in Paisley town centre

Article Source: Renfrewshire Council
Last Updated: 16 June 2019 10:47

Proposals have been drafted to test the impact of a partial removal of parking charges – to help inform future decisions over parking in the town centre.

If given the green light, the pilot would run for six months from July and see three hours of free parking on weekdays in five town centre car parks – at Weighhouse Close, Hunter Street, Orchard Street, School Wynd and Oakshaw.

Currently, parking is free in all Paisley town centre council-owned bays and spaces at evenings and weekends, but charges apply from Monday to Friday during the day.

The recommendations have been made by the Paisley Town Centre Parking Working Group – which was formed earlier this year and includes councillors, business groups, private car park operators and public transport representatives.

The proposed pilot scheme was created after a request from town centre business improvement district Paisley First, who sit on the working group.

The aim is to generate the data needed to allow the potential benefits to town centre traders to be measured against the financial and logistical implications for the council and private car park operators – which will then be fully evaluated before next steps are agreed.

As part of the pilot scheme, parking charges would be reintroduced on Saturdays – apart from in the five car parks named above (where the free three hours would still be available) and on the ground floor at Renfrewshire House in Cotton St, which would remain free all Saturday.

The reintroduction of Saturday charges was agreed by the working group to discourage people from parking for free in Paisley and travelling by train to Glasgow – and will free up spaces for people visiting local businesses.

Renfrewshire Council Leader Iain Nicolson said: “The issues surrounding parking in Paisley town centre are complex – but we are keen to work with businesses to find solutions that work for everyone in Renfrewshire.

“A historic town centre with a wide range of uses and users will never be able to offer the same ease of parking as out-of-town development designed around the car.

“We want to bring new life to Paisley – which we are doing through our £100m investment in venues and outdoor spaces and successful major events programme.

“That extra footfall will not be delivered by free parking all day, as commuters and workers who are in town anyway would fill the spaces – but time-limited free parking is an idea we are happy to test.

“But there will be a financial cost. Town centre parking brings in considerable revenue which goes into the services we provide to all Renfrewshire tax-payers – and what is being proposed will also require investment in new modern parking meters.

“We need to be able to measure the hoped-for benefits against those financial and logistical costs – and the proposed pilot is designed to let us make an informed decision on what we do in future.”


Councillors on the leadership board will be asked to consider the scheme when they meet on Thursday 19 June as part of a detailed report which reveals the following:

• there are more than 2,100 car parking spaces in Paisley, 1,250 of which are council-controlled, plus hundreds more free spaces on the edge of the town centre;

• the income from on and off-street car parking in the town centre is worth around £1m a year to the council;

• for any Free for Three scheme to work, new modern parking meters are needed – these will require drivers to enter their vehicle registration to stop them moving from one free car parking location to another after three hours. For the proposed pilot, this will cost around £30,000;

• a new Traffic Regulation Order would be needed to change on-street parking arrangements, and this would take up to a year – so the pilot has to be restricted to car parks rather than streets;

• the five car parks in the pilot total 186 spaces, around 15% of the council’s off-street total;

• it is predicted the proposed pilot will cost the council around £200,000 lost income and this will need to be met from within existing resources.

Sponsored Links

Latest Renfrewshire News

Call for volunteers to help restore riverbanks

Call for volunteers to help restore riverbanks

Environmentally conscious individuals are being asked to volunteer for a new community taskforce to help protect Renfrewshire's rich riverbank habitats.

READ MORE
Have some fun this Spring in Paisley town centre!

Have some fun this Spring in Paisley town centre!

Paisley's Spring Farmyard Trail is coming to Paisley town centre from Friday the 29th of March until Monday 15th of April.

READ MORE
Historic sites across Scotland get ready to reopen their doors

Historic sites across Scotland get ready to reopen their doors

Historic Environment Scotland (HES) has announced that over twenty sites across the country are set to reopen their doors to visitors this weekend.

READ MORE
Diabetes Scotland will host a virtual event for young people 11 to 25 living with type 1 diabetes

Diabetes Scotland will host a virtual event for young people 11 to 25 living with type 1 diabetes

Join Diabetes Scotland for a virtual event about an exciting new programme supporting children and young people 11 - 25 living with type 1 diabetes - Together Type 1.

READ MORE
Iconic Noughties stars make cheeky comeback to launch limited edition IRN BRU flavours

Iconic Noughties stars make cheeky comeback to launch limited edition IRN BRU flavours

Noughties stars The Cheeky Girls, Gareth Gates and S Club 7's Bradley McIntosh have taken a sip back in time to mark the release of IRN-BRU's new 2000s-inspired flavours!

READ MORE
Playsport in East Kilbride is set to welcome a new state of the art racing simulator centre GP Racing Simulators

Playsport in East Kilbride is set to welcome a new state of the art racing simulator centre GP Racing Simulators

GP Racing Simulators will incorporate 10 professional grade racing simulators, each equipped with a racing seat, steering wheel, pedals and a 43" monitor, alongside a licensed bar and dining complex.

READ MORE
Renfrewshire Provost rewards inspirational community members

Renfrewshire Provost rewards inspirational community members

Renfrewshire has honoured local groups and volunteers for their work in the community at the Provost's Community Awards.

READ MORE
Free activities this Easter at Dobbies

Free activities this Easter at Dobbies

Dobbies is welcoming families along to 68 of its stores this Easter to enjoy an array of free activities, including its Little Seedlings Club workshop and Easter Holiday sessions.

READ MORE
Deadline looms for 30th Scottish Thistle Awards public nominations

Deadline looms for 30th Scottish Thistle Awards public nominations

The search is on to find the best of the best in Scottish tourism as the Scottish Thistles Awards returns.

READ MORE
Learning and Cultural Hub wins national award

Learning and Cultural Hub wins national award

Paisley's Learning and Cultural Hub has won a national award. The new home for Paisley Central Library won the physical category at the EDGE Awards.

READ MORE
Hop along to Cardwell Garden Centre for some Easter Weekend fun

Hop along to Cardwell Garden Centre for some Easter Weekend fun

The Easter weekend is going to be eggs-tra special at Cardwell Garden Centre this year.

READ MORE
Springfest is back this April... with all things foodie as well as a host of entertainment and things to do!

Springfest is back this April... with all things foodie as well as a host of entertainment and things to do!

This year's FREE Springfest is playing host to two great Scottish chefs – Niall Murray and Rohan Wadke, who will inspire visitors with their FREE cooking demonstrations.

READ MORE
Fun family favourites leap into action on the big screen this Easter break at Vue

Fun family favourites leap into action on the big screen this Easter break at Vue

A host of brand-new family favourites are landing at Vue this Easter, meaning there are plenty of opportunities to spend quality family time at the big screen during the holidays.

READ MORE
Paisley Museum and Kairos Women+ win big at the Smiley Charity Film Awards

Paisley Museum and Kairos Women+ win big at the Smiley Charity Film Awards

Groups connected with the refurbishment of Paisley Museum are celebrating today after picking up an honour at the Smiley Charity Film Awards in London.

READ MORE
A taste of what is to come at Paisley Food and Drink Festival

A taste of what is to come at Paisley Food and Drink Festival

Spring is in the air and with it comes the return of one of Scotland's largest outdoor food and drink festivals to Paisley!

READ MORE
Saturday Winter Connections event in Paisley bringing people together

Saturday Winter Connections event in Paisley bringing people together

Dozens of people gathered together for a song and a chat at a Saturday Get-Together event in the Methodist Central Hall, Paisley.

READ MORE
National Theatre of Scotland announce full cast and creative team for Maggie & Me

National Theatre of Scotland announce full cast and creative team for Maggie & Me

Full cast and creatives announced for the tour of Maggie & Me, the first stage adaptation of Damian Barr's award-winning memoir touring UK in May and June!

READ MORE
Paisley Museum succeeds in major global competition to win prestigious international award

Paisley Museum succeeds in major global competition to win prestigious international award

The refurbishment of Paisley Museum has won a prestigious international award, recognising the significant role the project is playing in the town and wider region’s cultural regeneration.

READ MORE
Dobbies invites nominations for national community initiative

Dobbies invites nominations for national community initiative

Dobbies today launches Dobbies Community Gardens, to offer support for community and charity groups across the UK to help transform, restore or start their indoor or outdoor green spaces.

READ MORE
Scottish stovies and strange sheep are announced as the winning entries for The Glencairn Glass crime short story competition

Scottish stovies and strange sheep are announced as the winning entries for The Glencairn Glass crime short story competition

A sinister story involving 'stovies' and a grisly tale about the strange sheep of Greshornish have been chosen as the winning and runner-up stories in The Glencairn Glass crime short story competition

READ MORE
Easter fun for every bunny with the National Trust For Scotland

Easter fun for every bunny with the National Trust For Scotland

The National Trust for Scotland is going hopping mad for Easter and hosting a bumper 35 Easter egg trails at the special places in its care this spring.

READ MORE
Record breaking parasport festival held in Linwood

Record breaking parasport festival held in Linwood

More than one hundred children attended the West of Scotland's Parasport Festival, which took place at On-X Linwood on Monday 4th March.

READ MORE
Inspiring runners demonstrate transformative power of running

Inspiring runners demonstrate transformative power of running

Great Run 2024 series highlights inspirational stories from runners around the UK.

READ MORE
Dobbies invites families to hop along to its breakfast event

Dobbies invites families to hop along to its breakfast event

Dobbies, the UK's leading garden centre, is bringing back its much-loved Easter event, inviting families to hop along to their nearest store and enjoy an Easter Bunny Breakfast egg-stravaganza.

READ MORE
Celebrate International Womens Day at Vue with these iconic stories

Celebrate International Womens Day at Vue with these iconic stories

Friday 8th March marks International Women's Day and to celebrate Vue is set to screen four inspiring films which follow the achievements of incredible female leads.

READ MORE
Scottish trad music is on the rise

Scottish trad music is on the rise

New research released by VisitScotland reveals the growing popularity of Scottish traditional music, finding that over a third of Scots (34%) are listening to it more often in the past year.

READ MORE
Time for a Big Spring Clean!

Time for a Big Spring Clean!

Renfrewshire's Big Spring Clean is back for another year, with litter picks set to take place throughout March and April.

READ MORE
The 5th Paisley Book Festival programme is announced

The 5th Paisley Book Festival programme is announced

A stellar line-up of authors are set to take Paisley by storm at this year's Paisley Book Festival in April!

READ MORE
Last chance to secure an Earlybird Entry for the AJ Bell Great Scottish Run

Last chance to secure an Earlybird Entry for the AJ Bell Great Scottish Run

The AJ Bell Great Scottish Run is back on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th October, and the Earlybird offer to save up to £8 off your entry ends this Friday 1st March at 10am.

READ MORE
OneRen Spring Kids Camps are back!

OneRen Spring Kids Camps are back!

OneRen's Spring Kids Camps are set to return, bringing plenty of fun-filled action for children and young people during the school holidays.

READ MORE

Sponsored Links

Sponsored Links

Go Radio | Number 1 for Glasgow & The West - Listen on DAB, Online or on your Smart Speaker, just say "Launch Go Radio"

Popular Events

Oh What A Night!
Oh What A Night! at the Beacon Arts Centre will take you back in time on a musical journey through the incredible career of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons!
Heaven 17
LNP Promotions have announced that Synth-pop icons Heaven 17 will perform a special show at Paisley Town Hall on Friday 9th August!
Paisley’s Spring Farmyard Trail
Paisley's Spring Farmyard Trail is coming to town from Friday 29th March until Monday 15th April, can you find all 10 animals which are hiding around town?
Weegie Hink Ae That?
The Weegie Boys, Glasgow's best loved comedy sketch ensemble, bring a fast-paced, witty show to The Bungalow on Friday 10th May!
PACE Easter Fest!
Jam-packed with unique and varied creative performance experiences for ages 3-21, PACE is excited to announce the return of PACE Easter Fest!

Popular Listings

Beacon Arts Centre Braehead Arena Johnstone Town Hall Old Swan Inn Paisley Paisley Abbey Paisley Arts Centre Paisley Town Hall Robertson Park Renfrew The Bungalow Paisley Venue Paisley