Traders call for city parking incentives

TRADERS in Cork have expressed concerns that theirs is the only major Irish city without a pre-Christmas parking incentive.

The Cork Business Association (CBA) is planning to step up its campaign to secure cut-price parking in an effort to boost Christmas trade.

The CBA said it is not too late for the city council to follow the example of Dublin and Waterford city councils, which have each launched free parking incentives.

From today, motorists in Dublin will be able to park, free of charge, in some 1,380 on-street parking spaces after 2pm on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays until December 27.

The 2pm cut-off is designed to suit shoppers and ensure the spaces are not taken up by workers.

In Waterford, the city council has within the last week slashed the cost of its car parking spaces by 50% before noon on weekdays.

The initiative is backed by Waterford Chamber and Waterford City Centre Retailers Association.

By contrast, Cork’s city councillors last week voted against a motion, proposed by Fine Gael Cllr Patricia Gosch, to offer Christmas parking incentives.

She called for free parking to be provided at weekends in the city centre. She also sought reduced rates on weekdays to entice shoppers into the city.

The motion was voted down because councillors felt such a move would devastate the income generated by on-street and multi-storey car parking.

However, CBA president Lawrence Owens said a two-hour free parking deal on Saturdays in December would not cost the city that much.

“This would encourage shoppers into the city early, as opposed to visiting a suburban shopping,” he said.

“Surely it is not too much for Cork to trial this proposal as other cities have tried similar strategies, and assess the results.”

He said traders will explore other things like providing parking vouchers or free parking discs.

CBA spokesman Donal Healy said: “We are now the only major Irish city that has no incentive on parking for visitors this Christmas.

“I am disappointed on behalf of the traders as I expected the city council to support a reduction in the price of parking, or indeed free parking at off-peak times.”

Meanwhile, Cllr Gosch’s proposal has been referred to a council committee for further discussion.