A COUNCILLOR has called for a purge on illegally parked cars in Dumbarton town centre, and for the police to increase the number of parking tickets being dished out.

Last week at Dumbarton East and Central Community Council meeting, Councillor David McBride asked community police officer, Constable Gemma Loan, how many parking tickets had been handed out recently in Bridge Street.

His question comes around two weeks before West Dunbartonshire Council moves its main offices from Garshake to Church Street, where an overflow of parking is feared from the already spacious car parking being marked out for council workers a the new premises.

PC Sloan said: “There is currently a very close watch being kept on Bridge Street for people illegally parked.

“There are also a lot of tickets being handed out for motorists who are parking in disabled bays without a blue badge.”

Cllr McBride replied: “There is no excuse for people parking in that street. I will be contacting the police in the hope that they have a purge on drivers illegally parked there.

“The message has to get out there that it won’t be accepted and they risk a £30 fine.

“I have seen people getting tickets there recently and I am delighted that action is being taken. There are plenty of other car parks around the town centre.

“I, and the community council, appreciate it is not the most pressing of issues, but it is an unacceptable practice, particularly that if people who do not have the right to park in disabled bays, using them illegally.”

He was supported in his comments from the community council’s secretary, Dorothy Heron, who hopes that the police will keep a vigilant watch on the area, with local businesses similarly fearing an upsurge in town centre traffic.

Tory Councillor Brian Walker told the community council: “Traffic wardens were removed from Dumbarton town centre around 2012/13, with no council involvement in illegally parked cars either being ticketed or removed, the responsibility lies totally with Police Scotland.”