Rugby Park is the home of Kilmarnock Football Club and is located on Rugby Road, close to Kilmarnock town centre. The stadium is situated within an established residential area, with homes and local streets surrounding the ground.
Unlike many modern stadiums located on the outskirts of towns with large dedicated car parks, Rugby Park forms part of the existing urban area. This means increased pressure for the surrounding road network and residential parking when football matches and other events take place.
Match day parking
Parking around Rugby Park has been a long-standing issue, particularly on match days when a large number of supporters travel to the area within a relatively short period of time
Many supporters travel by car and look for parking within walking distance of the stadium. This can significantly increase demand for on-street parking in the surrounding residential streets.
Concerns have previously been raised regarding inconsiderate and inappropriate parking, including vehicles being left in locations which can restrict access, affect visibility, or create difficulties for residents.
What measures have been put in place to address this issue so far?
Match day parking around Rugby Park has been considered and reviewed over a number of years in response to concerns about road safety, access, and parking pressures within the surrounding residential area.
A number of measures have been introduced during this time, including temporary and permanent parking restrictions. The timeline below outlines how the arrangements have developed and the steps that have led to this consultation.
Before 2021: Previous match day arrangements
Match day parking controls have been used around Rugby Park for a number of years to help maintain road safety and keep routes clear for emergency vehicles.
Historically, an
Events Order allowed waiting restrictions to be introduced on streets surrounding Rugby Park during football matches and other events. The restrictions were implemented through temporary yellow no-waiting cones, with the particular lengths of road that were restricted being determined for individual events.
The arrangements date back to at least the early 2000s. A 2003 Traffic Regulation Order proposal listed a wide range of streets where restrictions could be introduced in advance of, and during, football matches and other events at Rugby Park.
The restrictions were intended to maintain road safety and keep emergency routes clear. Over time, complaints increased about inappropriate parking, as cones could be moved by supporters or attendees of events.
October 2021: Consultation with residents
Ayrshire Roads Alliance consulted residents of the area surrounding Rugby Park on possible changes.
These changes included:
- permanent waiting restrictions at junctions
- part-time restrictions on certain roads on match days
At this time there was strong support for part-time match day restrictions as shown in the March 2022 Cabinet Report
March 2022: Proposals progressed
Following the consultation, East Ayrshire Council Cabinet agreed that the Head of Roads should commence the statutory process for implementing a new Traffic Regulation Order (TRO).
The proposals included a combination of permanent restrictions at junctions and part-time restrictions on certain streets.
The proposed part-time waiting and loading restrictions would generally operate between 11am and 5pm with temporary yellow cones used to highlight the restrictions on match days. Provision was also made to accommodate occasional midweek fixtures with kick-off times outside these hours.
The move towards permanent lines and signs was also suggested to remove the need for temporary cones to be placed on the carriageway for every match.
2022-23: Statutory consultation
The proposed TRO was subsequently formally advertised. A total of 52 objections were received in relation to the proposals. Following correspondence between officers and objectors, 49 objections were withdrawn, leaving three outstanding objections.
The majority of the withdrawn objections related to proposals to introduce permanent waiting and loading restrictions on lengths of road opposite junctions.
Following a further review, officers agreed to remove these areas from the proposals and instead concentrate restrictions on junctions where inappropriate parking could compromise sight lines.
August 2023: New parking restrictions introduced
The Order permanently introduced or amended restrictions prohibiting waiting and introduced restrictions prohibiting waiting, loading and unloading on various streets within the vicinity of Rugby Park.
The exact lengths of road covered by the restrictions are shown in the 2023 and 2024 Order and associated plans held within the supporting documents section.
February 2024: Further consideration of match day parking
Parking pressures around Rugby Park continued to be considered following the introduction of the 2023 arrangements.
Issues relating to match day parking were discussed at
East Ayrshire Council in February 2024, including enforcement and potential measures for managing the number of vehicles travelling to the area.
East Ayrshire Council Cabinet agreed that the extended arrangements should be monitored and that a full public consultation would take place after the arrangements had been given time to operate.
April 2024: Temporary extension of match day restrictions
The area covered by the match day restrictions was subsequently extended through a
Temporary Traffic Regulation Order (TTRO) to help address inappropriate parking within residential areas beyond the existing catchment.
The temporary arrangements allowed the impact of extending the match day parking controls into the wider residential area to be assessed.
The TTRO is not in operation at all times. It is applied only when required for relevant match days.
As part of the current proposals, Ayrshire Roads Alliance is also considering changes to the times during which the match day single yellow line restrictions apply. Any revised restrictions would be clearly signed to show when they are in force.
2026: Current consultation
Ayrshire Roads Alliance is now seeking the views of residents, supporters and other road users about match day parking around Rugby Park.
The consultation provides an opportunity to tell us about your experiences of match day parking, where parking pressures are being experienced, and what should be considered when developing future proposals.
Feedback received through the consultation will help Ayrshire Roads Alliance understand the extent of current match day parking issues, assess how previous arrangements have operated, and inform the development of future proposals for the area.
What happens next?
Once the consultation closes, we’ll look carefully at all the feedback we receive and use it alongside our review of the existing and previous parking arrangements.
This will help us identify where parking pressures are being experienced, what is working well, and where changes may be needed.
We’ll then use this information to consider the options for managing match day parking around Rugby Park in the future.
If any changes to parking restrictions are proposed, we’ll explain what these are and, where required, there will be a further opportunity to comment as part of the formal Traffic Regulation Order process.
Rugby Park is the home of Kilmarnock Football Club and is located on Rugby Road, close to Kilmarnock town centre. The stadium is situated within an established residential area, with homes and local streets surrounding the ground.
Unlike many modern stadiums located on the outskirts of towns with large dedicated car parks, Rugby Park forms part of the existing urban area. This means increased pressure for the surrounding road network and residential parking when football matches and other events take place.
Match day parking
Parking around Rugby Park has been a long-standing issue, particularly on match days when a large number of supporters travel to the area within a relatively short period of time
Many supporters travel by car and look for parking within walking distance of the stadium. This can significantly increase demand for on-street parking in the surrounding residential streets.
Concerns have previously been raised regarding inconsiderate and inappropriate parking, including vehicles being left in locations which can restrict access, affect visibility, or create difficulties for residents.
What measures have been put in place to address this issue so far?
Match day parking around Rugby Park has been considered and reviewed over a number of years in response to concerns about road safety, access, and parking pressures within the surrounding residential area.
A number of measures have been introduced during this time, including temporary and permanent parking restrictions. The timeline below outlines how the arrangements have developed and the steps that have led to this consultation.
Before 2021: Previous match day arrangements
Match day parking controls have been used around Rugby Park for a number of years to help maintain road safety and keep routes clear for emergency vehicles.
Historically, an
Events Order allowed waiting restrictions to be introduced on streets surrounding Rugby Park during football matches and other events. The restrictions were implemented through temporary yellow no-waiting cones, with the particular lengths of road that were restricted being determined for individual events.
The arrangements date back to at least the early 2000s. A 2003 Traffic Regulation Order proposal listed a wide range of streets where restrictions could be introduced in advance of, and during, football matches and other events at Rugby Park.
The restrictions were intended to maintain road safety and keep emergency routes clear. Over time, complaints increased about inappropriate parking, as cones could be moved by supporters or attendees of events.
October 2021: Consultation with residents
Ayrshire Roads Alliance consulted residents of the area surrounding Rugby Park on possible changes.
These changes included:
- permanent waiting restrictions at junctions
- part-time restrictions on certain roads on match days
At this time there was strong support for part-time match day restrictions as shown in the March 2022 Cabinet Report
March 2022: Proposals progressed
Following the consultation, East Ayrshire Council Cabinet agreed that the Head of Roads should commence the statutory process for implementing a new Traffic Regulation Order (TRO).
The proposals included a combination of permanent restrictions at junctions and part-time restrictions on certain streets.
The proposed part-time waiting and loading restrictions would generally operate between 11am and 5pm with temporary yellow cones used to highlight the restrictions on match days. Provision was also made to accommodate occasional midweek fixtures with kick-off times outside these hours.
The move towards permanent lines and signs was also suggested to remove the need for temporary cones to be placed on the carriageway for every match.
2022-23: Statutory consultation
The proposed TRO was subsequently formally advertised. A total of 52 objections were received in relation to the proposals. Following correspondence between officers and objectors, 49 objections were withdrawn, leaving three outstanding objections.
The majority of the withdrawn objections related to proposals to introduce permanent waiting and loading restrictions on lengths of road opposite junctions.
Following a further review, officers agreed to remove these areas from the proposals and instead concentrate restrictions on junctions where inappropriate parking could compromise sight lines.
August 2023: New parking restrictions introduced
The Order permanently introduced or amended restrictions prohibiting waiting and introduced restrictions prohibiting waiting, loading and unloading on various streets within the vicinity of Rugby Park.
The exact lengths of road covered by the restrictions are shown in the 2023 and 2024 Order and associated plans held within the supporting documents section.
February 2024: Further consideration of match day parking
Parking pressures around Rugby Park continued to be considered following the introduction of the 2023 arrangements.
Issues relating to match day parking were discussed at
East Ayrshire Council in February 2024, including enforcement and potential measures for managing the number of vehicles travelling to the area.
East Ayrshire Council Cabinet agreed that the extended arrangements should be monitored and that a full public consultation would take place after the arrangements had been given time to operate.
April 2024: Temporary extension of match day restrictions
The area covered by the match day restrictions was subsequently extended through a
Temporary Traffic Regulation Order (TTRO) to help address inappropriate parking within residential areas beyond the existing catchment.
The temporary arrangements allowed the impact of extending the match day parking controls into the wider residential area to be assessed.
The TTRO is not in operation at all times. It is applied only when required for relevant match days.
As part of the current proposals, Ayrshire Roads Alliance is also considering changes to the times during which the match day single yellow line restrictions apply. Any revised restrictions would be clearly signed to show when they are in force.
2026: Current consultation
Ayrshire Roads Alliance is now seeking the views of residents, supporters and other road users about match day parking around Rugby Park.
The consultation provides an opportunity to tell us about your experiences of match day parking, where parking pressures are being experienced, and what should be considered when developing future proposals.
Feedback received through the consultation will help Ayrshire Roads Alliance understand the extent of current match day parking issues, assess how previous arrangements have operated, and inform the development of future proposals for the area.
What happens next?
Once the consultation closes, we’ll look carefully at all the feedback we receive and use it alongside our review of the existing and previous parking arrangements.
This will help us identify where parking pressures are being experienced, what is working well, and where changes may be needed.
We’ll then use this information to consider the options for managing match day parking around Rugby Park in the future.
If any changes to parking restrictions are proposed, we’ll explain what these are and, where required, there will be a further opportunity to comment as part of the formal Traffic Regulation Order process.
Pre 2021 match day arrangement notice
