Waiting for a sign (or 20) on Kirkcaldy high street parking chaos

Traffic regulations which councillors voted to change last August are finally in hand.

The TRO - traffic regulation order - is only effective once signs are put up letting people know about it.

Council officers have blanked out the parking information on the pillars at the start of the zone, next to Burton’s shop, and now need to identify 20 or more sites to place extra poles for the signs to be posted on.

That work has yet to start - but it should be done by the end of May.

Parking has been a major problem in the pedestrianised zone since the closure of Tolbooth Street’s surface car park - the busiest facility in town and one most used by Blue Badge holders - as it gave easy access to the High Street.

Ian Smith, Fife Council, traffic management, said: “The TRO for Kirkcaldy High Street’s pedestrianised zone is on schedule. Work is underway to identify locations for the signs.

“Traffic control is currently a police issue and they will continue to enforce the access restrictions.

“However, we will enforce the waiting restrictions within the pedestrianised zone when the signage for the new parking zone is in place. This should be in place in April or May.”

The TRO will not cover the parking chaos that surrounds the leisure centre.

A separate order has been raised and it has now attracted one objection.

That has still to go before the area committee - possibly with a recommendation to overturn it.

Last week saw traffic cones placed either side of the building to remove cars which were causing major problems.

Cllr Neil Crooks, chairman of Kirkcaldy area committee, said: “Inappropriate parking is having a negative effect on local businesses. Moreover, we can’t risk emergency escape routes being compromised by parked vehicles, and access to the roadway around the centre may be required for emergency vehicles in the event of fire, or other incident.”