Talks continue to maintain parking controls in Highland communities

5th December 2013

The Highland Council and Police Scotland are to work together to ensure parking management is maintained in the Highlands when the traffic warden service – currently provided by the police - ends.

Police Scotland have given notice of the completion of their phased withdrawal from the service from 3 February, next year. This is when the remaining five traffic wardens based at Inverness (2), Dingwall, Tain and Fort William are redeployed to other duties. At one time there were 18 full and part-time traffic wardens employed in the Highlands.

Talks between the Council and Police Scotland have been taking place at a senior level for several months and both are committed to putting in place a plan to ensure continuity of a service in communities that require traffic/parking management.

Looking further ahead, the Council will be focusing on the introduction of a Decriminalised Parking Enforcement (DPE) scheme, which gives the Council responsibility for parking controls.

An authority which operates a DPE regime employs parking attendants, who place penalty charge notices on vehicles parking in contravention of parking regulations. Penalty charges are civil debts, due to the local council. Motorists wishing to contest a penalty charge may first appeal to the council and then to independent adjudicators, whose decision is final.

Until then, the onus remains with the police to continue to enforce parking law.

Councillor Drew Millar, Chair of the Council’s Community Safety, Public Engagement and Equalities Committee, said: “Safety is a crucial consideration in our deliberations on this important matter. Parking management in our main communities is essential and the public should be assured that the Council is working at the highest level with Police Scotland officers to ensure a continuity of enforcement of parking offences.

“Until we are able to introduce the DPE regime, the police will continue to use their powers to take appropriate action on our streets when a parking problem arises and to closely monitor parking management.”

Councillor Millar hinted that the Council would be examining a new model of community officer, whose role would include a range of community enforcement issues, such as parking, litter and dog fouling.

Chief Superintendent Julian Innes gave a categorical assurance that the police will continue to enforce parking offences once the traffic warden service is withdrawn.

He said: “The onus clearly lies with the police and we will continue to promptly respond to any parking issue that requires our attention. We are working closely with the Council to introduce a short and long-term plan of action.”

 

Related Businesses

 

Related Articles

Yesterday : Local Authority

 
Highland creatives help shape UK City of Culture 2029 bid

Cultural artists and creators from across the Highlands have gathered at Strathpeffer Pavilion to share their ideas and ambitions for the Inverness-Highland bid for UK City of Culture 2029.   The bid, which is being taken forward under the name Beò 2029 the Gaelic word for living brought together around 80 creative practitioners from across the region for a cultural conversation exploring what culture means in the Highlands, what stories the region wants to tell, and the legacy for the future.  

18/6/2026 : Local Authority

 
Great Glen Way route improvements now open

A new improved section of the Great Glen Way is now open, offering walkers, wheelers and visitors a safer and more scenic way to experience this popular trail.   The Highland Council has completed work on over 3km of the route, moving it away from the public road and onto a new off‑road path.  

14/6/2026 : Local Authority

How Caithness Can Strengthen Its Case for Major Capital Investment in an Era of Shrinking Budgets

Caithness has reached a moment where the old assumptions about public investment no longer hold.  For decades, the region could rely on a three‑pillar system: HIE to drive economic development, Scottish Enterprise and national programmes to support growth, and Highland Council to deliver the infrastructure that underpins daily life.  

14/6/2026 : Advisory / Counseling Services

When the Money Moves South: How HIE’s Shrinking Budget Has Hit Caithness and Why “Record Funding” Doesn’t Mean What It Used To

For decades, Highlands and Islands Enterprise was the economic backbone of the far north.  It wasn’t perfect, but it was one of the few institutions that understood the basic truth of life in Caithness: distance costs money, and if the state doesn’t step in, the market won’t.  

11/6/2026 : Local Authority

Highland Council's £20 Million Transformation Gamble – What Happens if the Savings Never Arrive?

For most people, council committee papers and audit reports are not the sort of documents that attract much attention.  They are full of technical language, financial terminology and governance structures that can make even the most determined reader give up after a few pages.  

8/6/2026 : Local Authority

Hop on Board: ÂŁ2 Bus Fares Make Exploring the Highlands Easier Than Ever

ÂŁ2 Bus Fare Scheme Drives Accessible and Sustainable Travel Across the Highlands With the school holidays approaching, The Highland Council is encouraging residents and visitors to make the most of the ÂŁ2 single fare cap on its in-house bus services.   The initiative is helping to make public transport more accessible and affordable, particularly for families looking for low-cost ways to travel during the summer months.  

7/6/2026 : Local Authority

Apprenticeship pathways to build a future Highland workforce

Highland Council's education committee members have praised the apprenticeship programmes offering more young people the chance to learn skills and equip them for the world of work.   Foundation Apprenticeships (FAs) and Modern Apprenticeships (MAs) in Highland are growing strongly, with participation now well above national averages.  

6/6/2026 : Local Authority

The slow unravelling of a promise: why the £100 million Thurso schools project may already be drifting into delay

The announcement of a six‑week consultation on the future of Thurso High School should have been a moment of clarity — a sign that after years of discussion, Highland Council was finally ready to move from aspiration to action.  Instead, it has exposed a deeper truth about the state of capital investment in the Highlands - The numbers no longer add up.  

5/6/2026 : Local Authority

New ‘Better Off Calculator’ to support Highland residents and improve financial outcomes

The cost of living continues to place significant pressure on household finances, which affects the affordability of essential goods and services, particularly home energy, food and fuel.   As these pressures persist, access to high‑quality advice, and clear information about the financial help and support available to residents across Highland is more important than ever.  

4/6/2026 : Local Authority

Highland Council agrees to consult on major investment in Thurso schools

Highland Council’s Education Committee has (3 June 2026) agreed to launch a statutory consultation on proposals to transform education provision in Thurso.   The decision marks an important step in shaping future investment in Thurso’s schools, giving pupils, parents, staff and the wider community the opportunity to help influence how modern, high quality education provision is developed for the town.