Drivers can look forward to an hour’s free parking in East Kilbride Village when charges are reintroduced .
The Labour group secured an agreement to rule out off-street charges for the remainder of the financial year.
And South Lanarkshire Council will now not reintroduce off-street parking charges until restrictions are eased and non-essential retail can reopen again .
Labour councillors also secured agreement to revisions to the Council’s parking charging policy with other parties.
This includes the 60 minutes free in the Village – which has been backed by East Mains Community Council as a way of boosting trade to the area as we come out of the pandemic.
A previous bid by Labour to delay the introduction of on-street charges was defeated and so charges for on-street parking were re-imposed, despite additional restrictions over the winter period.
Councillor Joe Fagan, who represents the Village area in East Kilbride, said: “There shouldn’t be any more pandemic parking charges for South Lanarkshire’s shoppers until non-essential retailers can reopen.
“That’s now Council policy after Labour secured agreement on the way forward at the Council’s Executive Committee.
“Our bid to stop on-street charges coming back was defeated several months ago and we are concerned the current charging arrangements are inconsistent. However, off-street charges will not be coming back until our retailers can trade again and that is a positive development.
“When charges are reintroduced in East Kilbride, visitors to the Village will now have 60 minutes free.
“I have been working to find a way of incentivising short trips into the Village since I was first elected and I hope this small but significant change makes a difference.”
Chairman of East Mains Community Council, Bill Arthur, said: “Anything that can help the turnover of businesses in the area and help generate more traffic and footfall to the Village is welcome.
“This latest change looks promising.
“Folk can now go to the shops and stay longer when they reopen.
“We hope that the timetable for reopening may be brought forward.
“The Village is like a ghost town at times and it’s sad to see.
“Especially when we saw the investment shopkeepers and businesses put in - the money, time and effort trying to keep their premises open.
“The pandemic sadly overtook their efforts but hopefully the summer will see the start of a recovery and the Village will be a bright, vibrant place once again.”
