Kilmarnock homeowner thinking of selling up amid matchday parking controversy
Ms Grant was given a parking fine when Celtic visited in November
A frustrated Kilmarnock woman admits she is considering selling her home after being given a parking fine while parked outside it.
Michelle Grant wants East Ayrshire Council to rip up the Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) she received when her car was stationed outside her Rowanhill Place flat during a Kilmarnock FC matchday.
Ms Grant doesn’t have a driveway and was fined £100 discounted to £50 when Celtic visited nearby Rugby Park on November 10th.
It’s the first time she has encountered this issue in the eight years she has lived at the home and follows a letter from Ayrshire Roads Alliance (ARA) in April advising the council would be introducing a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order (TTRO) when Killie played at home.
However, Ms Grant claims she was told last May that if she provided the local authority and ARA with her V5C form proving her car was registered to her address she would be exempt from any penalty.
She said: “I went out after the game and there was a ticket on my car.
“I phoned Ayrshire Roads Alliance and they said, no, that’s understandable, send your V5 form into us again and we’ll cancel the penalty.
“So, I sent my appeal in. Sent my forms in with it. Photographs of the property showing there is no parking spaces, and they just sent me a letter back saying I hadn’t won the appeal, and I needed to pay it before it went up to £100.
“I paid it because I didn’t want to pay the £100.”
Ms Grant has now penned a letter to her MP stating other Rowanhill Place residents have had similar issues, with some neighbours being single females concerned about being asked to park vehicles away from their homes during the darker nights and worries about car insurance coverage, due to cars being parked away from the sight of property.
“I’m angry and disappointed,” Ms Grant continued.
“It would have been something that put me off purchasing the property if I had known that on matchdays you couldn’t park. I pay my council tax, and I think this is just unreasonable.
“I am thinking of selling my property after the new year at some point because of it.
“And it’s something I’ll have to tell potential buyers and it’s something that will deter some buyers.”
However, East Ayrshire Council dispute Ms Grant's claims, explaining there is no dispensation for homeowners on the estate during home games.
A spokesperson said: “In April 2024, all residents of the Westmoor estate were hand delivered letters and a map advising of the parking restrictions for the final games of the season.
“Residents were asked to contact the Ayrshire Roads Alliance if they didn't have off-street parking or any alternative arrangements in place.
“Residents that contacted the Alliance had their vehicles noted and were authorised to park for those games only. At this time, they were advised there would be no allowance given for the new season.
“A TTRO is in place in this area and only covers one side of each street to allow for some parking. No vehicles have been given any dispensation or permits.
“The coning has also been relaxed on Rowanhill Place, but not outside Ms Grant's home as it is on a junction. Ms Grant had parked on the junction beside cones and her appeal was therefore declined.
“On match days, Ms Grant is entitled to park in any part of the estate where parking is allowed and where cones are not in operation.”
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