Improved parking at popular places benefits visitors and locals

Publish Date: Friday February 24, 2023

After consultation with communities, landowners and stakeholders, Fife Coast & Countryside Trust (FCCT) are introducing Parking Charge Notification (PCN) schemes to several car parks throughout Fife.

Under this scheme, drivers will pay a modest fee to park their vehicles for over two hours and overnight. This will allow us to manage the car parks more safely and sustainably. Income from the parking schemes will go towards the cost of managing them and making further improvements, such as including improving public toilets and providing chemical toilet disposal points in some key locations.

FCCT’s Head of Operations, Robbie Blyth, explains: “For many years now, non-regulated public car parks have proved to be a challenge in terms of being over-used and finding resources to manage them. In non-regulated car parks, rules such as overparking and inappropriate use of disabled bays without a blue badge can’t be effectively addressed.

“We are now seeing higher levels of daytime usage and unacceptable levels of overnight parking, in part due to the staycation phenomena.

“Introducing a PCN scheme means drivers entering the car parks are contractually obliged to adhere to the conditions of use. As a result, we can manage the car parks much more safely and sustainably and protect the environment. This will benefit locals and visitors alike.”

Overnight vehicles

In March 2023 PCN schemes are being introduced at the following car parks. Parking bays will be marked out for disabled drivers and overnight vehicles. Payment will be made to a parking ticket machine:

• Birnie & Gaddon Lochs (3 overnight bays)
• Craigmead (5 overnight bays) Until now, payment has been to an honesty box
• East Lomond (5 overnight bays)
• Pittenweem West Braes (5 overnight bays)

The pricing is:

• 0-2 hours: Free
• Disabled parking (Blue Badge Permit): Free during the day
• All day parking (07:00 – 20:00): £1 – £2 (depending on location)
• Overnight parking: £5 – £10 (depending on location)

Signage will go up to clearly explain when the charges come into force. FCCT staff will be monitoring the car parks and offering help and advice.

Similar schemes are already in place at Elie Ruby Bay and Kingsbarns, where there are parking ticket machines, and at Glenvale and Wormit where payment is made to an honesty box. FCCT is consulting on a PCN scheme at Limekilns Pier car park and at Pettycur Bay.

Read more about overnight parking and charges in the ‘plan your trip’ section on our website.

FCCT has produced a handy leaflet that offers guidance to motorhome drivers who want to enjoy Fife. We believe it will be especially useful for those new to the motorhome community. It offers useful information to get the most out of their visit, but also make them aware of their responsibilities when holidaying in Fife.

To comment or ask questions about our PCN schemes please email Ask.Us@fifecountryside.co.uk or phone 01592 656080.

With thanks to Visit Scotland and the Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund.