Parking tickets for cars blocking Edinburgh roads

Vehicles blocking roads or causing congestion will be fined

Cars blocking main routes in Edinburgh because drivers have abandoned them in the snow will be given a parking ticket or towed, police have warned.

Lothian and Borders Police said motorists who were leaving their vehicles in awkward places were causing major access problems.

A spokesman said cars will be towed if they block an emergency vehicle and fined if they are causing congestion.

An abandoned van at Barnton caused huge tails backs earlier.

A 45-year-old motorist told the BBC Scotland news website that her journey into Edinburgh from Newmills in Fife took an extra hour due to the van holding up traffic.

She said: "I was so angry that one transit van could cause so much congestion on the A90.

"People have to stop abandoning their cars in the snow."

Yellow lines

Meanwhile council-run parking attendants have not been issuing parking tickets since heavy snow hit the capital.

An Edinburgh City Council spokesman said they did not have the powers to issue tickets under the parking regulation order because motorists were unable to see yellow lines covered in snow and ice.

Jenny Dawe, Edinburgh City Council leader, said she did not know how much the local authority was paying the armed services to clear the snow.

A Lothian and Borders Police spokesman said they do have powers to issue parking tickets where cars are blocking roads or causing traffic congestion.

Soldiers from Dreghorn Barracks are helping clear snow in Edinburgh

He said: "We are asking motorists to think sensibly when they park their vehicles because bad parking is leading to problems with access on the roads now.

"Those cars found to be blocking a road will be issued with a parking ticket and those blocking the path of an emergency vehicle will be towed."

He added that they would assess each case individually. All vehicles which are causing an obstruction will be towed but cars that have obviously been parked to take advantage of the conditions will be charged for being taken away.

A Lothian Buses spokesman said: "Due to icy road conditions and badly parked cars some services are currently not operating their full route."

The Army has been drafted in to help clear the snow in Edinburgh.

At least 40 soldiers from the Army have started clearing hospitals and care homes of snow.

They have cleared snow to make access to a boiler in the Astley Ainslie Hospital and to make way for medical supplies at a residential home.

The Navy and RAF are now also helping clear snow and ice.