Car parks and car parking charges

Parking charges were suspended in January, to support key workers during the emergency response to the Covid pandemic. With Scotland now moving out of lockdown, we’ve moved out of the emergency response stage and started to return services back to normal.

Parking charges help generate a turnover of spaces to ensure that visitors can get parked close to their destination. It allows us to create short stay locations near town centres and long stay locations outside the main areas. These charges are also used to pay for the provision and maintenance of car parks throughout Fife.

There’s no evidence to indicate that parking charges prevent drivers from visiting our towns. Charges help manage parking to ensure that spaces close to key destinations are available, making it easier for anyone who wants or needs to be close to the town centre get a space.

We understand that people may have concerns about using machines which require physical contact. Parking meters will be cleaned, but this cannot be done after every use, much like buttons on crossing points, ATMs, card terminals, etc.

For anyone who wishes to avoid contact with the parking meters, we have a contactless payment option through RingGo available in all our charged car parks. This allows anyone with a Smartphone to pay for parking using an app - www.ringgo.co.uk

All you have to do is download and register on the RingGo app. This will then provide you with payment options for the car park you’re in (using location services). The location codes are printed on each of the payment machines so you can confirm it’s the correct car park when using the app.

Once you’ve used the app once, it can save your details, making it easy to pay for parking on future trips anywhere which operates RingGo.

We understand that people may have concerns about using machines which require physical contact such as parking meters and ATMs. We have a contactless payment option through RingGo available in all our charged car parks, allowing anyone with a Smartphone to pay for parking using an app.

All you have to do is download and register on the RingGo app. This will then provide you with payment options for the car park you’re in (using location services). The location codes are printed on each of the payment machines so you can confirm it’s the correct car park when using the app.

Once you’ve used the app once, it can save your details, making it easy to pay for parking on future trips anywhere which operates RingGo.

Please visit www.ringgo.co.uk

Signs have been placed around multi-storey car park throughout Fife to help users maintain physical distancing. This includes new one-way systems in stairwells, restrictions on the number of people permitted within lifts at any one time, and physical distancing reminders placed around the building.

If a vehicle is parked on a formal parking restriction, this can be reported by email to parking.management@fife.gov.uk. We have limited staff available within the office as government restrictions are still in place, so an email with details of the vehicles position is the best way for us to address any concerns as quickly as possible.

For vehicles parked causing an obstruction, on white zig-zag lines or in a way which is considered dangerous, this should be reported to Police Scotland by calling 101 or through their website. Fife Council can only issue tickets where formal parking restrictions are marked on the ground.

Normal enforcement measures are in place and any vehicle parked in a charged parking area could receive a Penalty Charge Notice if they fail to pay. Details of restrictions are shown on the entry signs within the car parks.

A contactless payment option is also available through the RingGo app - www.ringgo.co.uk

Information relating to our residents permit zones can be found here.

Season tickets can be purchased on our website here.

We will be writing to everyone whose ticket was valid during the time when parking charges were suspended to offer an extension covering any lost days.

Details on how to appeal a Penalty Charge Notice can be found on the reverse of the notice. We cannot accept appeals by phone or email, but appeals can be made online or in writing.

Instances of drivers trying to exit/enter vehicles at the same time are limited. Physical distancing advice in place throughout Scotland can be maintained without spacing out vehicles. Should you find that you’ve arrived at your vehicle at the same time as the adjacent driver, please maintain your distance until it is clear to continue.

There are currently no restrictions in the length of stay in place at Ferrytoll or Halbeath Park and Ride sites.

Fife Council cannot enforce distancing rules. Signs are in place to remind users of their responsibilities.

The only exemption from parking charges is for blue badge holders.

All parking restrictions are being enforced throughout Fife. The only exception is within Residents Parking Schemes.