Fed up residents have opened up on their four-year-row with a Scots council over their private parking spaces.
Jimmy and Maureen Stewart were told last year that the bays outside their home Springfield, Edinburgh, would no longer be theirs – despite owning the land. The couple, alongside several of their neighbours, bought the private spaces with the purchase of their homes.
Each bay is individually assigned to a property on the title deeds. In January, an email sent by developers Taylor Wimpey to Jimmy confirmed the firm had been in touch with the council but was not provided the information needed, so they had to return with more questions through their lawyers.
Two members of the council’s parking team visited in September over confusion as to why the spaces were not being enforced. When homeowner Jimmy explained the situation and showed them some paperwork, he claims they left in agreement the spaces were private and could not be painted with permit parking lines.
A spokesperson for Taylor Wimpey has since spoken of the firm’s “disappointment” at not making progress with the council and reiterated the developer does not agree with the authority’s stance. Now, Jimmy insists he and his neighbours will “not give up” on their fight to reclaim the bays.
The 73-year-old told our sister title, Edinburgh Live: “A while ago Gavin Graham came from the council and we got quite a few of us here with information, details and title deeds, but he was quite adamant the council could take the spaces, but without any good reason. Out of the whole estate they’re only wanting to take our six spaces. A while later a couple of people were out taking photos. Maureen went out and they were from the council.
“They were from the parking enforcement team and we showed them the title deeds and explained the situation and they went off quite content that they couldn’t take the spaces. They said ‘yes it’s private parking’ and I assume they went back and told their bosses that. We haven’t spoke with Taylor Wimpey but it appears they are on our side to speak.
“It was first raised just before the pandemic and here we are four years later. We sometimes think they’ll just forget about it but obviously as people keep coming back they aren’t. We’re dreading the day we come back and they have painted the lines, although we still have our own metal bollards up.”
Jimmy has been trying to get local councillors to fight his corner but admitted their hands may be tied.
He continued: “If we and our neighbours lost our spaces it would have a huge impact. These homes were bought on the basis they came with private parking outside. To buy a home with a space then sell it without would cost thousands of pounds. Well we’re not giving up. We may contact the new leader of the council and hope they can help and hope Taylor Wimpey has some joy with the council.”
Another resident, who preferred to remain anonymous, previously said: “The title deeds are the most important document to go by. There is a demarcation line outside which means it can’t be adopted so I have no idea how this has happened. They are not going to earn money from these spaces – they belong to us.
“I have communicated with people at Taylor Wimpey and the Land Registry who have said it is our property. I don’t think the council could take our bollards down, they would have to ask us to do it. We would obviously say no and they would have to serve us with a notice then we would still say no and they would probably try and take us to court. The tenants who live in my flat may move elsewhere if they do not get their own parking space.”
A spokesperson for Taylor Wimpey East Scotland said: “We can confirm that we are in regular contact with the City of Edinburgh Council (CEC) on this matter, and a Freedom of Information request made earlier this year did not provide us with the required information to completely understand this issue because as previously stated we disagree with the Council’s position.
“While our legal team remains in contact with the homeowners involved, we are disappointed that we have not made more progress with CEC. We are committed to playing our part in resolving this matter, and we are considering our next steps.”
A City of Edinburgh Council spokesperson said: “Our legal team remain in contact with Taylor Wimpey’s solicitors and therefore it would not be appropriate to comment any further at this stage.”
Don’t miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond – Sign up to our daily newsletter here.