Cork city shoots down request to relax weekend parking regime
Fianna Fáil councillor Sean Martin had asked management to consider easing parking controls in selected inner city areas on Saturdays for a fixed period and on a trial basis only. “I believe that we need to encourage people into the city centre,” he said.
However, a report by city officials said there are four main reasons for the parking regulations:
To ensure public safety by preventing parking at or near pedestrian crossings, junctions or on footpaths.
To maintain traffic flows and minimise traffic congestion.
To facilitate city businesses by keeping loading bays, taxi ranks, and bus stops clears.
And to create a turnover of parking spaces through pay parking.
“It is clear that parking regulations in relation to the first three points cannot and should not be relaxed,” the report said.
“The question of relaxing pay parking controls is also not recommended.
“Loss of availability of parking on the street will make the city centre less attractive for shoppers and visitors.
“Free parking on Saturdays would result in the majority of spaces being occupied all day by workers, while a longer permitted parking duration will reduce turnover and availability of parking on the street.”
The news emerged as local Fine Gael election candidate Billy MacGill called for the development of parking spaces for tourist coaches.
Cork is losing out on potential visitors because of the lack of appropriate coach parking in the city centre, he said.
“For far too long, Cork has been the county that tourists just pass by on their way to Killarney and West Cork and we need to work hard to tell tourists just how much Cork can offer them.
“If we can’t even make parking available for these same tourists, we don’t have much of a chance of encouraging them to explore the city’s tourist attractions.”
He said tourist coach parking could be developed outside the tourist office on the Grand Parade and around the corner from 42 to 48 South Mall, and also outside the AIB headquarters.
“These areas are currently designated as loading bays, but I believe that they should be used as tourist spaces as well,” he said.
More spaces could be provided on Cook Street and Princes Street between 11am and 5pm when these streets are closed to traffic, he added.
“We might not be able to provide a purpose built coach park now, but, there’s no reason why we can’t be a bit more resourceful and make use of the facilities which could be put in place without any additional cost.”
