'dangerous' dumfries town centre parking is 'accident waiting to happen'

COUNCILLOR PAULA STEVENSON MADE THE CLAIM WHILE COUNCILLORS DISCUSSED A DRAFT VERSION OF THE NEW REGIONAL PARKING STRATEGY. 12:05, 20 May 2025 A councillor claims “dangerous” parking in

Dumfries town centre is an “accident waiting to happen”. Paula Stevenson made the claim during the latest Nithsdale area committee meeting. Members were given the chance to see a draft

version of the council’s new regional parking strategy. The local authority is currently pushing on with its decriminalised parking enforcement, which could see wardens issuing tickets to

drivers. READ MORE: Aldi offers Dumfries shoppers chance to win free shopping and help kids' charityREAD MORE: Scotland’s longest running greenfield music festival faces

'uncertain' future The police is responsible for parking enforcement at present and it could take 12 months for the scenario to change. Councillor Stevenson, who represents North

West Dumfries, said: “I was wondering if we could have a report brought back to Nithsdale area committee with the work being carried out at present with partner agencies to ensure dangerous

parking in Dumfries town centre is being discouraged. “It is an accident waiting to happen, especially in the town.” She asked for a report “highlighting the work being carried out at

present with partner agencies to ensure dangerous parking in Dumfries town is discouraged and this report should be part of a wider paper reviewing the state of the town centre including

street cleaning and sanitation, pavement repairs and flagstone replacement – because these are just being replaced by tarmac now – and bus shelter cleaning and what we’re doing to ensure our

town actually looks like something the residents can be proud of”. Click here for more news and sport from Dumfries and Galloway. Mid and Upper Nithsdale Councillor Jim Dempster said: “I

hope it’s every town centre and not just Dumfries because we are looking after Nithsdale and we all take pride in our own local communities.” Abbey Councillor Ian Blake agreed all Nithsdale

towns should be included and added: “This parking problem is not a new problem, it’s been happening since around 2014 when Police Scotland really withdrew their intention to enforce parking.

“In the last two years there has been a significant step forward as we have gone down the decriminalised parking enforcement route.” Article continues below Councillor Stevenson replied:

“I’m quite happy for a report on every town to come back but I would like to see them individually purely because each town will have its unique difficulties that need to be addressed.”