A DECISION on whether controversial park and ride charges will go ahead is expected in autumn. 

Fife Council have just finished consulting with the public on plans to introduce a £1 a day fee at Ferrytoll and Halbeath. 

Objections are expected to be presented in the early autumn to councillors – who have the power to throw out the proposal. 

Fife’s Conservatives have thanked the public for supporting their campaign to kill off parking charges after they called on West Fifers to oppose the plans during the consultation period.

Conservative leader and Inverkeithing and North Queensferry councillor Dave Dempsey said: “We’ve been heartened by the number of members of the public contacting us to ask how to object or to share their reasons for objecting. Now that the closing date has passed, it’s worth explaining what happens next.

“Everyone who lodged an objection will get a letter or email explaining why their reasons are invalid.

"The council officer tasked with sending these out has no option. Councillors set the process in motion, so, for now, it’s council policy and officers have to implement it.

“Your letter/email will include an invitation to withdraw your objection. If you do, it’ll be as if you’d never objected. You have an absolute right not to and no need to justify your decision. A simple ‘I wish to maintain my objection’ is all you need to send back.

“All the objections that aren’t withdrawn will be presented to councillors, probably in the early autumn.

"That’s when the decision will be made – when we’ll find out whether the quantity and quality of public opinion is enough to persuade councillors, many of whom aren’t enthusiastic about charges, to do the right thing and throw out this proposal.”

The plans to introduce parking charges have come under fire across the political spectrum with many saying commuters and the environment will suffer as a result. 

Green MSP Mark Ruskell likened the proposal to the hated Forth Road Bridge tolls and called on the Transport Minster to intervene, while Dunfermline MP Douglas Chapman asked Fife Council to overturn its decision with fears that the policy would dent hopes of a new £6.4 million facility next to Rosyth rail station. 

Fife Council believe the parking fees would raise funds in the region of £190,000 a year at Ferrytoll and £130,000 at Halbeath.