Traffic enforcement to be stepped up at Cairngorms’ most popular beauty spot
Car parks at Glenmore belonging to Forestry and Land Scotland will soon come under the enforcement of Highland Council traffic management officers.
The move to bring the parking areas together under the same management is part of two Traffic Orders paving the way for new Pay and Display bays coming into force in the Loch Morlich area.
The FLS car park order states: “The 2025 Order will implement these changes by adding existing Forestry Land Scotland car parks to the list of council regulated car parks allowing enforcement of contraventions where required.
“Notices will be displayed in all affected car parks.”
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Places where fines could be issued for parking breaches are Glenmore Lochside car park, the Sugarbowl car park, Glenmore Allt Mhor car park, Glenmore Beach car park, the Hayfield car park, Glenmore Allt Bahn car park and Loch Morlich car park.
Highland Council is scheduled to take over the management of FLS’ charging car parks in addition to those the local authority is introducing in Glenmore later this spring.
Much of the Glenmore stretch of the Cairngorm ski road will be paid for parking with the rest of the route being designated as no waiting zones.
A spokesperson for Forestry and Land Scotland, said: “Glenmore experiences phenomenal levels of visitor traffic in the peak season and that places significant levels of demand on our available resources.
“We have to prioritise how we use that resource and it made sense to team up with our partner, The Highland Council, which is already managing other car parks in the area.
“There will be separate terms and conditions for FLS car parks and roadside parking as posted in the separate Traffic Orders.
“This approach will consolidate parking management in the area and allow us to focus on other aspects of the visitor offer such as increased focus on delivering enjoyable visitor experiences.”
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A Highland Council spokesperson told the Strathy they aim to have the works completed by the end of this month of early May.
FLS ticket machines are already in-situ and the council has new machines waiting to be installed.
There will be a discounted parking permit for residents of Badenoch and Strathspey for the local authority scheme.
The Pay and Display restrictions for the council’s roadside bays will be in force from March 1 to October 31.
However, parking fees will continue to apply all year round at FLS car parks.
The charges in FLS car parks will be: £2 for up to one hour, £3 for up to three hours and £5 for all day (up to 23.59 that day).
The charges at the council’s roadside Pay and Display bays will be: £3 for up to three hours, £4 for up to six hours and £5 for 24 hours (from time of purchase). This ticket is only valid for use at roadside.
There has been repeated criticism in the past of the lack of parking enforcement in the strath especially on local High Streets.
The council has taken on the responsibility since Police Scotland controversially stopped funding traffic wardens.
The money raised through penalty charge notices is used to maintain the service and for traffic-related projects.
More information on Highland Council decriminalised traffic enforcement is available here.
