Update on the rollout of decriminalised parking enforcement across Ross and Cromarty

During today’s (Wednesday 1 May) Ross and Cromarty Area Committee Members were updated on progress made to roll out the necessary Traffic Regulation Orders to decriminalise parking across the area. Once in place these traffic orders will allow The Highland Council to enforce on street waiting and loading restrictions previously enforced by Police Scotland.

Following a public consultation process held with communities across Ross and Cromarty earlier this year advertise the further roll out of Decriminalised Parking Enforcement (DPE) all relevant Traffic Regulation Orders will now be published for waiting and loading restrictions in Alness, Dingwall, Invergordon, Tain, Ullapool and Kyle of Lochalsh.

These Draft Traffic Regulation Orders will enable all existing prohibitions and restrictions on waiting and loading currently in place in these locations to be made into new map-based Traffic Regulation Orders. In some cases, following consultation with communities, on-street parking, waiting and loading prohibitions and restrictions are also being introduced to some additional sections of roads and there are some minor localised alterations to some existing restrictions.

The Committee were advised that live enforcement will begin this month with officers initially issuing warning notices to ensure drivers are aware of the new restrictions.

Chair of the Committee Cllr Fiona Robertson said: “Decriminalised Parking Enforcement is a process to allow responsibility for enforcing parking, waiting and loading regulations to be transferred from Police Scotland to The Highland Council. I would like to thank the communities who have taken part in the consultation sessions for their comments and feedback which has helped officers drawn up the necessary orders. The roll-out to other villages and towns across our area will begin in September.”

The next phase of the roll-out that starts in September will include Avoch, Fortrose, Gairloch, Rosemarkie, Muir of Ord and Munlochy and once again consultation will take place with local communities.