FIFE Council will today (Thursday) be urged to speed up the devolution of town centre parking charges – so Sunday fees can be axed here.

The plea will be made by Dunfermline South councillor James Calder who is keen to see change happen as soon as possible.

The motion from the Liberal Democrat follows the Press’ campaign calling for the council’s Sunday parking charges to be scrapped in Dunfermline.

Cllr Calder said: “We think it is very positive that the council are looking to devolve parking charges to the local areas. There have been a lot of concerns about the Sunday parking in Dunfermline in particular and what we are trying to do is welcome this development but also to encourage it to be devolved as soon as it is possible.”

Cllr Calder has submitted a motion which will go before the full meeting of the council today.

It states: “Council also notes the investment decision of the recent Fife Council budget to devolve parking charges and the recent motion supported by all political parties in the City of Dunfermline area committee which called for devolution of these powers.

“Council welcomes this development and calls for an acceleration for its implementation across Fife as soon as practically possible within the next few months.”

Hugely unpopular when they were introduced in January 2017, the Sunday fees were condemned by angry traders, shoppers and politicians for “killing” business and threatening jobs.

Dunfermline Delivers, which represents around 400 firms in the town centre, are also opposed to the charges.

We called on Fife Council to scrap the charges to breathe new life into the town centre. And at the recent budget meeting, a move to give area committees the final decision was approved – with £100,000 set aside to help make it happen.

Cllr Calder said he brought forward the motion, which was seconded by Dunfermline North Conservative councillor Gavin Ellis, in the hope of bringing this measure forward more quickly.

He said: “I have spoken to quite a number of local businesses in Dunfermline and they are keen for these powers to be brought in more locally. Especially for things like Sunday parking charges as a lot of business have not been very happy about them being introduced.”