After several stays of execution, the scratch card-style vouchers — sold in a decreasing number of shops and other outlets in St Andrews — will finally be phased out by November 1.

On Tuesday this week, the north east Fife area committee was given an update on preparations for the introduction of a new pay and display system in the town and agreed to allow a, "period of grace" for the vouchers so that people could use up any pre-bought ones.

In a detailed report to committee, Derek Crowe, the council's senior manager for roads and engineering services, told councillors that since their decision to scrap the vouchers 18 months ago, even more outlets had stopped selling them. From 41 in 2003, there were 27 in January this year.

Delays in the planning process, coupled with council elections and amendments to the application meant time was running out for the voucher contract which could not be extended further.

A planning application on pay and display machines planned for St Andrews is due to be considered at the end of this month.

Mr Crow said the initial figure of 46 solar powered machines proposed had been reduced first to 38, then 31.

After extensive consultation, the earlier design was revised, with the number of machines — different to the previous ones — cut to 28.
The current planning application for the revised proposal was submitted last September and was due to be considered on April 30.

Committee chair Councillor Andrew Arbuckle said he was concerned that when councillors came to decide on the planning application they should be allowed to deal with it on purely planning matters.

"I know the St Andrews members feel all the options haven't been explored and I would be happy to convene a meeting between transportation, the St Andrews councillors — and any other councillors who wish to come along. That would allow us to deal specificially with the vouchers today."

Councillors agreed to do that before the planning application came before committee.

However it was clear that members who'd taken office after last May's elections were unhappy to be dealing with issues decided by the previous administration.

Mr Crowe said he would provide them with all the background information available.

St Andrews councillor Bill Sangster asked what would happen if the pay and display application was turned down.

Mr Crowe stressed that in law the council had no powers to extend the contract beyond what was being suggested.

Charged schemes for town centres like St Andrews were about managing parking and traffic.

However he appeared to contradict himself when he conceded the council needed the income as part of its services budget but added that if it was purely about making money, towns like Cowdenbeath and Leven under less pressure over parking would also have charges imposed.