Parking charges in city cut 50% to boost festive trade

PARKING charges in Cork city have been slashed by 50% on Saturdays for motorists signed up to the ParkMagic service.

The discount deal, which runs until Christmas, was one of two initiatives announced yesterday to boost pre-Christmas trade.

The city council has also extended the opening hours of its Black Ash park-and-ride service by two hours every Thursday and Friday night until Christmas.

Both initiatives were welcomed last night by the Cork Business Association (CBA), which had been lobbying city officials to introduce some measures to support traders.

“The bad weather has had a fierce effect on trade in the city centre in recent days. Yesterday was particularly bad,” CBA spokesman Donal Healy said.

“But the discount on parking and the late night park-and-ride service should encourage and facilitate people to shop in the city centre.

“The park-and-ride hours are a great encouragement for people to stay late in the city.”

The ParkMagic deal will see motorists who pay for on-street parking using their mobile phone paying just €1 per hour on Saturdays.

Text messages will be sent out to ParkMagic customers in the coming days. Some city centre traders will also be distributing starter packs to encourage more people to sign up.

Starter packs are also available from reception at City Hall, Fitzgerald Electrical on Grand Parade or direct from ParkMagic’s website.

From this Thursday, the last park- and-ride bus will leave Lapps Quay at the later time of 9.15pm.

The late service will operate on December 9, 10, 16, 17 and 23.