It has recently been brought to our attention that North Ayrshire council are planning on turning the small car parks within the town into pay for stay car parks. 
As a shop owner who has always worked and traded within Saltcoats this is causing great concern as a business owner who has already witnessed a rapidly declining foot fall with in the town centre. 
My shop as an example relies on the car park adjacent to my shop for the majority of my foot fold with a predominately older based clientele who struggle to walk any distance. 
I can speak on behalf of my fellow traders within our street who feel the same. 
Both hairdressers and the chip shop are in agreement as the majority of our custom is short stay and rely on it as we aren’t part of the main town. The furniture warehouse runs the risk of consistent parking tickets as they require access all day to the warehouse to remove furniture. This is just in our wee street. Can you imagine the rest of the town? 

The main purpose of the pay for stay being implemented by the council is to clamp down on  rogue parking (which I’m sure happens but I see very little of it in the car park I stare out at on a daily basis) and the money collected is being justified to pay the newly employed traffic wardens the council are hiring. 

This will not only effect the traders of Saltcoats who are already struggling with rising costs, lower foot fold and the aftermath of covid and lockdowns within the town but also staff within the town & residents of surrounding areas too who already struggle to park outside there own homes. 

We have been victim to a rapid decline in our town over the years with very little help or financial aid as we strive to keep our town bussling. We feel this latest plan it will only accelerate the decline by driving even more of the public away from the town. 

So please sign our petition and put a stop to these plans. We have contacted our MP and 5 local councillors to raise our concerns with some backing the proposed actions and some against. 

thank you