Park at the Postings - but not at the leisure centre...

And parking restrictions are to be introduced around the town’s new leisure centre in a bid to stop cars being left on double yellow lines and unauthorised areas around the complex.

Councillors agreed to measures, which will see both problems tackled, at a meeting of the Kirkcaldy area committee this week.

The Fife Council-run car park above the Postings has been seriously underused since Tesco quit town last April.

Councillors heard a six-month trial of reduced parking charges, including lower priced quarterly season tickets, had seen 49 new permits issued, compared to seven in the same period in 2014.

The permits are only currently valid in long-stay facilities.

Councillor Neil Crooks, committee chairman, said: “With the significant drop in cars parking at the Postings, it makes sense to open this up to season ticket holders to offer more flexibility for those regularly parking in the town centre.”

Councillors agreed to the recommendation that, as part of the trial, the Postings car park be promoted to season ticket holders.

The committee also agreed to a Traffic Regulation Order which will impose a ‘no waiting at any time’ restriction on the service road around Kirkcaldy Leisure Centre.

The aim is to reduce the number of vehicles parking there, reduce congestion and improve access for centre users, as well as improving access to the centre’s disabled parking bays.

Cllr Crooks said: “Inappropriate parking is having a negative effect on High Street businesses, with deliveries having to be re-scheduled because lorries cannot reach their destinations. We cannot risk emergency escape routes being compromised by parked vehicles and the roadway around the centre may also be required for emergency vehicles.”

He advised using nearby car parks, including the multi-storey, which is free from 6pm-10pm.

Parking permits

Season tickets are valid for a three-month period but are currently only valid for use in long-stay car parks.

Under the current parking charges trial, which runs until March 31, the cost of a season ticket has been halved to £60 from £120.

This works out at less than £1 a day for a five-day working week.

They will be valid for use in the Postings rooftop car park from immediate effect, pending an amendment to the current Traffic Regulation Order.