FOOTAGE from on-street CCTV cameras should be handed to councils to pinpoint rogue drivers who flout bus lane rules and parking restrictions in Scottish cities, campaigners say.
The call comes amid a pioneering proposal to recruit the 200 council cameras and thousands of private units across Edinburgh in the battle against illegal parking.
Edinburgh City Council has written to Scottish Transport Minister Humza Yousaf, above, to explore the possibility of changing the relaxing access to CCTV footage.
Local authorities in England and Wales are empowered to use CCTV networks to identify and fine drivers for parking illegally.
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Now Edinburgh Green councillor Chas Booth has called for action to make the city council the first in Scotland to gain access to the entire CCTV network.
"The principal issue is that Edinburgh already has quite a comprehensive network of CCTV cameras," said Cllr Booth
Glad @lmacinnessnp agreed to write to @HumzaYousaf in reply to my Q to ask for more council powers to tackle illegal parking. #edincouncil pic.twitter.com/ELGLTmVARZ
— Chas Booth (@CllrChasBooth) November 23, 2017
"What I am suggesting is not that we have new cameras, but rather that we discuss giving councils the power to use their existing camera network to better enforce illegal and irresponsible parking."
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His call was supported by cycling campaigners Spokes, the Lothian Cycle Campaign, as well as the Living Streets charity.
Cllr Booth, below, added: "One of the things that has been suggested to me for example was that CCTV cameras on buses, there will be some that point at the front of the bus and even thinking of bus lane enforcement that is the obvious question.
"That CCTV will be owned in the case of Edinburgh by Lothian Buses, so I don’t know whether there would be legal barriers to that."
However, motoring organisation the Institute of Advanced Motorists said it is opposed to enforcing parking legislation "by automatic means".
Spokesman Neil Greig said: "Whilst cameras can work well in black and white situations such as speed limits there are often many shades of grey in complex urban traffic.
"You just have to look at the problems around bus lane cameras in Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow to see what can happen if signposting and other information is not clear and thousands of drivers get caught out."
Mr Greig, above, said: "The best role for CCTV in parking is to make existing car parks more secure and attractive places to visit."
Dave Du Feu, of cycling campaign group Spokes, said illegal parking endangers cyclists but is also a particular problem for buses.
He said: "In Edinburgh for example the council has just installed a new segregated cycle lane thinking that would be safe from parking but vehicles have actually been stopping on that as well.
"Where CCTV is available it would be good if the legalities allow it to used.
"If the problem is that the legal situation doesn’t allow it then there’s a good argument for changing that.
"The problem for cyclists is that illegal parking is forcing you into the stream of traffic which is putting you inn danger and is difficult for motorists as well."
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Stuart Hay, Living Streets Scotland Director says: “Councils need every available tool to tackle the scourge of parking on pavements and cycle lanes; having access to camera footage is vital.
"Camera footage from around schools would also be useful, stamping out parking that endangers children.
"The law should be reformed to allow this evidence to be used in Scotland, as long as data protection safeguards are in place.”
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