On-street and off-street Parking are generally available throughout the Falkirk Council area, although they differ in their conditions of use and their control.
You can find information on public car parks and off-street parking in the list of public car parks.
On-street parking
On-street parking is generally controlled through the use of single or double yellow lines and parking bays provided for disabled persons; taxis; doctors or other specific users.
Double yellow lines mean a total ban on parking. All other restrictions and bays marked on the road are accompanied by small plates mounted on poles or adjacent walls indicating which users are allowed to park at which times.
Parking in Falkirk town centre
In Falkirk town centre, on-street parking is controlled between 08:45 and 17:30, Monday to Saturday by the use of Pay and Display parking charges payable at on-street ticket machines. Permitted waiting times and charges are shown on each ticket machines.
On-street parking is enforced by Central Scotland Police Traffic Wardens and Police Officers. On-street parking regulations require that:
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unless you or your passenger hold a valid ‘Blue Badge', you must purchase and display a parking ticket;
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you must not exceed the permitted waiting period,
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vehicles must be parked fully inside the marked bays;
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only persons holding a disabled parking Blue Badge may park in a disabled parking bay.
Defects and faults with ticket machines, signs or on-street markings should be reported to Clarence on 0800 232323.
Residents Parking
Resident only parking places rely heavily on enforcement and are generally only introduced in conjunction with Pay and Display to allow residents a reduced parking charge. Consequently, residential permits, which cost £60 annually and are enforceable Monday to Saturday (8.30am – 5.45pm) are only issued within the Falkirk town centre controlled parking zone where Central Scotland Police traffic wardens are likely to be able to commit sufficient resources to enforcement.
Within Falkirk town centre controlled parking zone, residents parking permits are available in the following locations:
Residents of Falkirk town centre, who wish to apply for a residents parking permit, should download the document entitled ‘Residents Parking Permits – Application Form’ from the Documents section at the top of this page and follow the completion instructions.
Parking Outside Your Home
With increased car ownership, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find convenient parking in residential street. Many streets in the Falkirk Council area were built before owning cars was commonplace. Properties within many streets do not have driveways, garages or any other means of parking a vehicle off the road. It is not uncommon for many households to own multiple vehicles, which in turn puts strain on the local road network and poses significant parking problems, particularly in the evenings and at weekends.
It is not the responsibility of Falkirk Council to ensure that you can park your vehicle outside your home and nobody has the specific right to use the kerb side in front of their home. It is not the responsibility of Falkirk Council to provide off-street parking for residents. Primarily, the objective of Falkirk Council is to keep streets safe and accessible to assist emergency vehicles, refuse vehicles, delivery vehicles and access for residents. Whilst it may seem that, by parking your vehicle partially of wholly on the footway, you are keeping the road clear, you are in fact blocking access to the most vulnerable road users, pedestrians, children, parents with prams, the elderly and disabled people.
Illegal Parking
Any illegal or inappropriate parking on the public road should be reported to Central Scotland Police|.
Falkirk Council has no legal authority or enforcement powers to take action against motorists committing such offences. The most common reports of illegal or inappropriate parking are:
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Parking on the footway/verges
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Parking within 10 metres of a junction
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Driveway or garage obstruction
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Overnight parking of Heavy Goods Vehicles (over 3.5T) on the public road. (See below)
Heavy Goods Parking
The parking of heavy goods vehicles in residential areas is a common complaint. A Heavy Goods Vehicle is classed as a commercial vehicle that weighs over 3.5 tonnes. These vehicles are not permitted to park on any street and should be parked at their designated operating centre. Operating centres are agreed with VOSA|, these are generally not in residential areas. Any resident having concerns about the parking of heavy goods vehicles should contact VOSA on 0300 123 9000 or enquiries@vosa.gov.uk| with the registration of the vehicle for further investigation.
If any vehicle is creating a road safety concern then this should be reported to Central Scotland Police|. Falkirk Council would encourage all drivers of heavy goods vehicles and other commercial vehicles to avoid parking in residential areas at all times. Falkirk Council permits the overnight parking of heavy goods vehicles in Meeks Road car park, Falkirk| and Union Road car park, Grangemouth|.
Access Protection Markings
If you have access to off-street parking, in the form of a driveway accessed via a properly formed dropped kerb, and regularly experience difficulty with motorists blocking your access, it is possible to apply for an access protection marking. An access protection marking is an advisory marking designed to highlight a dropped kerb footway crossing point to other motorists. This marking has no legal bearing and merely aims to draw attention to an access, making other motorists aware that access may be required. Should you wish to apply for an access protection marking, Development Services can be contacted using the address or telephone number in the ‘Contact Us’ section. Alternatively, please download the ‘Access Protection Marking|’ – Application Form from the ‘Documents’ section. This should be completed and submitted to the address noted Please be aware that there is a £50 fee for an access protection marking.
If you currently have an access protection marking and wish it to be refreshed, you should contact the Councils Roads Maintenance department| who can arrange for the marking to be repainted at a cost of £25.
Disabled parking bays
People with disabilities may apply for a parking space to be marked off on the street close to their home. This will be granted to those applicants who meet the Council’s criteria and the Disabled Persons' Parking Places (Scotland) Act 2009|.
The space can, however, be used by anyone with a disabled parking blue badge. A space cannot be reserved for the sole use of the applicant.
Unfortunately, it may take up to six months for the space to be approved and implemented due to the legal process required. Contact Roads & Development, using the details shown, if you wish to apply for a space.
Disabled parking bays Customer satisfaction survey
In order to improve our service, Roads & Development have embarked on a process of surveying disabled parking bay applicants via a questionnaire survey to gauge customer satisfaction. The results are available below:
Disabled parking bays (off-street)
It is the responsibility of private businesses in the Falkirk Council area to manage and enforce the use of disabled persons' parking places located within their grounds.
Any issues regarding this or misuse of spaces should be reported directly to the business for them to take the appropriate action.