ALLOA town centre is an "absolute traffic chaos" a councillor has claimed during a charged exchange with police chiefs last week.

Cllr Craig Holden voiced his dissatisfaction over the parking situation at last week's Audit and Scrutiny Committee at Clackmannanshire Council.

The Clacks South representative said motorists routinely park on pavements, double yellow lines, in disabled bays and taxi ranks, crowding corners and blocking junctions, increasing the risk of accidents.

He also claimed a report was "sexed up" when it came to parking "to give the appearance of the police being in control".

His words came following an exchange with Wee County area commander Chief Inspector Audrey Marsh, who was tabling a police performance report for the committee on Thursday, October 27.

A section in the report highlighted how illegal parking remains an important community concern and said that community policing officers on duty for Alloa Sheriff Court have "increased patrols in this area as much as possible".

The report went on to say there has been positive feedback as a result and that over three days of action, the report relating to the time between October 2021 and March this year, 64 fixed penalty notices were issued for contraventions.

However, Cllr Holden later painted a picture of "widespread abuse and traffic chaos throughout the town" which he saw when he undertook an exercise himself on a Tuesday – "traditionally the quietest day in Alloa".

"Primrose Street, where we have a very targeted development taking place, every single disabled space was occupied by non-permit holders," he said.

"Drysdale Street, almost impassable with cars and lorries all over the place, the top of the High Street narrowed with cars parking illegally the full length of the street and that includes a police van on double yellow lines.

"So, clearly, the current approach is not working and the report states the community are extremely positive, they feel their concerns are being addressed."

The councillor added: "Alloa is an absolute traffic chaos."

During questions, CI Marsh explained that police resources are allocated according to what poses the greatest threat, risk and harm to communities.

She said: "We have to just allocate where the greatest need is, but we have targeted it as much as we can, as you know, the CP [community policing] officers for Alloa cover a wider area as well, we do as much as we can."

The Wee County's top police officer also said she hopes in the future the council might look at decriminalised parking enforcement.

"We are there as much as we can," CI Marsh added. "We do appreciate that it's a challenge and it's a community concern. We'll continue to do as much as we can".

Earlier in the meeting, concerns had been raised over the impact of budget cuts to come following exchanges at Holyrood last week.

"I have sympathy with that," Cllr Holden continued.

"You have to prioritise, there's limited resources and there's pressures."

On the issue of decriminalised parking enforcement, which would see the council take over responsibility, Cllr Holden highlighted the council's own limited resources.

He concluded: "It is a police matter and I believe the police should be addressing it in a much more robust fashion.

"Quite frankly, my patience is running out on this matter, I'm going to be seeking a meeting with Police Scotland again."

And added: "The parking element of this report has quite frankly been sexed up to give the appearance of the police being in control.

"They are not in control, they are absolutely not in control."