NEW parking restrictions are to be introduced in the centre of Cardross – but councillors have warned that they must be properly enforced.

Argyll and Bute Council workers are to paint double yellow lines on the layby at Scott Gardens on the A814, due to what officials say is “a perceived increase in drivers using the layby as a parking area”.

A proposal to introduce the restrictions was approved by the local authority’s Helensburgh and Lomond area committee.

Council traffic and development manager Stuart Watson said in his report on the proposals: “Dunbritton Housing Association are now regularly receiving complaints from the [Scott Gardens] residents who are finding it more difficult to enter onto the main road.

“In addition, the nearby former Muirholm Inn site has also been redeveloped into a retail shop (Co-op), which is now operational.

“There is a potential for ad hoc parking with shoppers using this location as a convenient place to stop for short visits into the shop.”

The three objectors say the council’s proposal would result in the loss of a frequently-used dropping-off point, and would actually make the road less safe because it would force people visiting houses on the other side of the A814 to reverse from driveways directly on to the road.

At December’s committee meeting, depute council leader Gary Mulvaney said there would be no point in introducing double yellows unless they were enforced by council traffic wardens.

Cllr Mulvaney said: “I had to laugh at some of the objections. People may want to use the layby to drop someone off, and they may need to manoeuvre, but it doesn’t mean they need to park there all day.

“Let’s crack on and get the lines painted – if we can enforce them.”

Lomond North councillor George Freeman asked if there was a need for the restrictions, saying he “very seldom” saw drivers using the layby as a parking place.

He told the meeting: “I can’t imagine anyone parking there to go shopping when the Co-op has its own car park.”

Committee chair Cllr Ellen Morton said: “We are not road traffic officers. But when there is a road safety issue which is in our power to address, and we don’t, we could leave the council at risk.

“Our officers say there is an issue about cars parking in the layby. I don’t think allowing cars, vans and lorries to impede sightlines for people living there is sensible.”

Existing waiting restrictions in Cardross were prepared in 1971 and excluded the layby, which was then used as a parking place to allow visitors to access the site, which was home to a garden until the housing complex was built 10 years ago.