Councillors in Renfrewshire have become embroiled in a spat over a parking charges consultation that cost more than £40,000 – branding it a “complete waste of money”.

SNP councillors confirmed last week they would not be supporting proposals to introduce charges in Johnstone and Renfrew town centres after findings of a consultation showed there was “no clear consensus” on the matter.

This provoked a backlash from opposition members, who have slammed the administration for spending £41,037 on the impact assessment and consultation.

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It’s a sum that Renfrew North and Braehead Conservative Councillor Jane Strang claimed would have been better spent on supporting the under-threat Citizens Advice Bureau in Paisley.

She also said the issue of whether a consultation was necessary should have been discussed at full council.

“A decision on a big subject such as parking charges should have been brought before full council for debate, a democratic discussion and vote,” said Councillor Strang.

“Instead, £41,037 has been spent for an unnecessary consultation when a sum such as this would have kept the Citizens Advice Bureau in Paisley open for another 12 months.”

Johnstone North, Kilbarchan, Howwood and Lochwinnoch Independent Councillor Andy Doig described the cash spent on the impact assessment as “exorbitant”.

He believes there was already sufficient evidence to show that locals would not support the charges.

Councillor Doig said: “The council did not need to spend this exorbitant amount of money on an impact assessment as there were numerous studies in the public domain from across the UK, which show that car parking charges are killing town centres.

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“That said, I am delighted the whole cack-handed concept has been dropped, but it has been very badly handled at great cost to the council tax payers of Renfrewshire.”

Meanwhile, Labour group leader Councillor Eddie Devine said: “This has been a complete waste of money.

“The so-called consultation only told the SNP what was already known, parking meters were never going to be accepted by the public in Johnstone and Renfrew.”

Councillor Cathy McEwan, convener of infrastructure, land and environment policy, has insisted the impact assessment was needed.

She said: “The impact assessment was necessary to identify the current issues with parking in Renfrew and Johnstone and any possible solutions.

“While the assesment did find problems with parking in both towns, the SNP said throughout the process that we would listen to local communities and any proposals would have to benefit these communities.

“That is why the details of the impact assessment were released to the public in full, in order that they could understand the issues and give an informed opinion.

“From the feedback received, it was clear that there was no consensus for the introduction of parking charges.”

Renfrewshire Council has said a report will be presented at the infrastructure, land and environment policy board later this month.

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A spokesman explained: “An assessment into the introduction of parking charges to Johnstone and Renfrew town centres was carried out earlier this year and looked at a series of measures which could be taken to improve parking within both town centres.

“The detailed technical process required an investment to be made to allow all the options available to be investigated, while ensuring the views of key stakeholders within both towns were considered.

“A report detailing the feedback received online and through public meetings will presented to the forthcoming infrastructure, land and environment policy board on August 29, as well as outlining the key findings of the impact assessment.”