New Voluntary Parking Charges Trial In Nairn To Support Local Infrastructure

20th May 2021

New voluntary pay and display machines will be in operation in Nairn from Friday as part of a drive to raise funds to support local infrastructure.

The Parking ticket machines are located at The Harbour, Cumming Street and The Maggot Car Parks in Nairn with signs confirming voluntary parking charges.

Time will tell if Voluntary Parking charges work. The trial in Nairn will see charges from £1 for up to two hours, £2 up to four hours, £3 up to 12 hours.

A tariff structure in line with the rest of the Highlands will be implemented. This approach will be adopted during the 2021 summer season and thereafter a consultation will take place later in the year to determine the future approach.

The funds raised will be returned to the Nairn Common Good Fund and also used to improve local infrastructure.

Purchase, installation, signage and upgrades to lining will be met by Highland Council from the 2021 Visitor Management funding. Ongoing maintenance costs will be met from the car parking income generated.

Chair of the Nairn Area Committee, Cllr Tom Heggie, said: "The new voluntary parking charges will have a number of benefits for the area, including higher levels of income for the Common Good Fund and investment in local infrastructure such as increased CCTV."

He added: "The committee welcomes the fact that this new scheme will be monitored over the summer months and a consultation at the end of the season will provide more information around maintenance requirements, the success of the scheme and what the future will look like.

“The new parking scheme will also allow us to manage visitors as the town experiences significant traffic management challenges as a result of an influx of visitors or staycationers in the busy holiday season."