Approval sought for decriminalised parking

Council Executive have approved plans to progress the implementation of Decriminalised Parking Enforcement and Pavement Parking legislation at their meeting on 13 January.
A report will be presented to the Environment and Sustainability PDSP later in 2026 setting out the lengthy legal process required for the council to be granted powers by Scottish Ministers to enforce parking and pavement parking in West Lothian.  
The report will also include a draft business case that will be presented to Council Executive for approval, prior to submission to Scottish Ministers, with the whole process expected to take up to two years.
Currently Police Scotland are the only ones who can enforce parking, waiting and loading restrictions on the public road network in West Lothian, and they previously employed dedicated parking wardens to carry this role out until 2014.
Executive councillor for the environment and sustainability Tom Conn said: "I welcome this important step forward in the process to introduce decriminalised parking in West Lothian.
"The legal process required by Scottish Ministers is expected to take around two years to complete, with details on exactly how the scheme will operate in West Lothian to be agreed during this time." 
Decriminalised Parking Enforcement transfers the responsibility for enforcing parking regulations from the police to local authorities, with a majority of Scottish councils already operating a decriminalised parking enforcement regime. 
This is expected to reduce illegal parking and congestion, improve traffic flow and compliance such as blue badges, and improve road safety in West Lothian. 
Another report will also be presented to the Environment and Sustainability PDSP in 2026, setting out proposals to enforce Pavement Parking legislation in West Lothian. 
Preventing pavement parking will enhance safety and accessibility for all road and footpath users, particularly vulnerable groups such as those with mobility issues and parents with pushchairs.
While there are additional costs incurred when setting up and staffing these new processes, it is expected to generate a small surplus, which would be re-invested to improve transport infrastructure in West Lothian.