NERVOUS village shopkeepers claim that parking penalties are killing business in Kilmacolm.

Traders say that custom has dried up since the council’s new enforcement scheme kicked into gear – and they want an urgent rethink.

Village councillor and Depute Provost David Wilson has called for emergency changes to be introduced to save the livelihoods of retailers who have told him that shoppers are going elsewhere.

Councillor Wilson, who says he’s spoken to 27 shop owners, said: “We have been three years without wardens and the village has coped perfectly well.

“Now wardens are enforcing a 30-minute waiting time and the traders are up in arms about it.

“I asked for the 30 minute limited parking to be made two hours because people come into the village to do a bit of shopping or to sit in one of six coffee shops — this is one of the attractions of the village. I worry about the impact this is having on traders, they’re outraged.” A catalogue of business owners spoke to the Tele to raise concerns about the situation.

Butcher Douglas Graham, owner of Blackwood’s for 20 years, said: “Over seven days we had four visits in the village from multiple wardens. It just cleared the village up in the afternoons.

“People with children stop for a couple of minutes and if they don’t see a space or a traffic warden, they’re off. The wardens are having a knock on effect on footfall.” Stephen O’Donnell, who owns the Village Bakery, added: “A lot of carers are worried they won’t be able to do their jobs properly because they’re worried about parking their cars. It’s just a nonsense.” Fishmonger Colin Love questioned the need for the enforcement measures and says they are creating problems that did not exist before.

He told the Tele: “I’ve been here for a long time and we don’t have a problem with parking.” Shoppers are also worried about the long term impact of the parking clampdown.

Grandmother Ann Muir, 63, who has lived in the village all her life, said: “I think it’s dreadful. It’s going to affect all our shops. It’s only a wee village, there’s no need for this. We’ve got a lot of elderly people in the village and they need the shops.” Drew Livingstone, former head teacher of St Columba’s School, said: “We’re a rural community here, people have to drive into Kilmacolm. If they cannot park and go for a coffee, they’ll just go to the supermarket.” A spokesman for Inverclyde Council today defended the decriminalised enforcement scheme, which was agreed by the full council in June.

He said: “The parking wardens will give tickets to drivers who are illegally parked and that includes blocking up a no waiting zone or misuse of disabled spaces.

“The one sure way to avoid a ticket is to park your car considerately and ensure you are complying with the parking restrictions.

“The on street parking restrictions in place today in Kilmacolm, for example, are exactly the same as they were this time last year and the same as they were three years ago when the police actively enforced them.

“If anyone isn’t sure exactly what they are; there are signs in place in the affected streets, yellow lines have been refreshed where required and all the detail is available online at www.inverclyde.gov.uk/parking “If anyone disagrees with the parking restrictions they should send their views in to the council’s head of environmental and commercial services who will examine them as part of the annual review.”