How makeshift carpark on derelict Postings site left councillors with an issue

Dozens of cars have turned the former Postings’ land between Hunter Street and Hill Street into the biggest free car park in the town centre - with over 80 vehicles using it every day.

And councillors believe that is one of the reasons why the purchase of discount season tickets for its official car parks has slumped.

The loss of the multi-storey car parks on the Esplanade was another big factor, and now just 29 drivers make use of the cut price passes which let them pay £60 per quarter rather than the standard charge of £130.

Officers had recommended scrapping the discount scheme and using the money for other projects, but councillors ar Kirkcaldy area committee this week said they needed more information - and delayed a decision until later in summer.

Motorists can park for free at the train station, but they have also turned the Postings site into an adhoc car park.

Fences surrounding the site have all fallen down, and, amid the rubble, dozens of cars are now parked either side of the large dip in the middle of the derelict land.

Councillor Alistair Cameron (Kirkcaldy Central, Labour) said of the decline in season tickets: “It is pretty obvious. You have the railway station and Postings -there were over 80 car parks there today! It is not difficult to work out why - you either pay or get a free parking space, It is simple enough really.”

Councillor David Ross (Kirkcaldy North, Labour) said the choice was simple - keep the discount scheme or use the cash for something else.

“I was a big advocate of the discount when it started but things have changed completely, particularly in regard to The Postings which have gone and multi-storeys which have been demolished,” he said. “We could use the money in better and different ways.”

Several councillors said there wasn’t enough information to make a decision, and called for the paper to be tabled again in June when a decision could be made..

Highlighting the unknowns surrounding the town’s £20million masterplan, Councillor Carol LIndsay (Kirkcaldy North, SNP) said: “We should not be in a position today to make a decision as we do not have a full picture.”

> The committee agreed to change a traffic order to exempt Hunter Street residents from parking charges.

They previously had passes to use the Postings, and when that was demolished in 2022, an informal agreement was made to allow them to park in the street, but it was never fully adopted into any traffic order.