A LORRY driver is frustrated after watching private cars park in the loading bays on Girvan’s Main Street for at least seven years.

Russell Conn has been delivering meat to the butchers for some 26 years and is becoming increasingly concerned at the ‘lack of consideration’ from drivers parking in the bays designed for him and other drivers.

He has already raised this issue with local councillors who said they would talk to the Ayrshire Roads Alliance to discuss bringing wardens into the area on a more regular basis to monitor the issue.

Russell said: “I have been a lorry driver for a long time. You come down here [to Girvan] and it is a one way system in the town. 

“The loading bays were put in six or seven years ago and I have been doing this route for 26 years. 

“When I get to the loading bay there are cars parked there and on the kerb. 

“I cannot get into the loading bay to make my deliveries.

“But nobody cares.

“After speaking to the Girvan councillors, I was told there would be wardens on patrol.

“But I only saw them there for one day. 

“I spoke to a driver, who was illegally parked, but he didn’t care.

“It is not worth my time even asking to these drivers to move as they say there is nowhere else to park.

“It is inconsiderate and frustrating to watch time and time again. 

“I am from Stevenston and I travel from Ardrossan every day.

“My route includes Ayr, Coylton, Maybole before stopping in Girvan.

“By law, I have to take rest breaks and we must not work more than six hours without a break. 

“But if people are in the loading bays I can’t take the breaks I am entitled to there and I have to park somewhere else.

“The way I look at it, if you are illegally parked [anywhere else] and police can move you one, surely you are illegally parked in a loading bay if you are not a commercial vehicle.

“It is not just once or twice this is happening, it is every week. I deliver to the butchers in Girvan and various other shops.

“If I cannot park, I have to drive round in circles until the loading bay is free.”

In law a driver must not work for more than six hours without a break. 
If a driver works six to nine hours, they need a break or breaks totalling at least 30 minutes.

If a driver works more than nine hours, they must have a break or breaks totalling 45 minutes.

Ayrshire Roads Alliance  said that since the road involved is a trunk road, this was a matter for Transerv.

There were no further updates on the issue as we went to press.