Free parking to entice Cork shoppers

SHOPS in Cork city centre which do not normally open late on Thursdays and Fridays are being urged to do so to take advantage of free parking being introduced next month.

Cork City Council has decided to provide free spaces in its Paul St multi-storey carpark on both nights through next month from 6.30pm to midnight.

Cork Business Association (CBA) chief executive, Donal Healy, said that shops which did not traditionally open on late nights could benefit by doing so and would in turn provide more variety to shoppers.

The CBA has warmly welcomed the decision by the city council to also allow shoppers to park free for two hours in its two multi-storey car parks from Monday to Thursday next month. A total of 1,150 spaces will be free at the Paul St and North Main St car parks from 10am to noon on these days.

Mr Healy said the CBA had been seeking some gesture from Cork City Council to encourage more shoppers into the city centre during the run-up to Christmas and he was delighted that city manager, Tim Lucey, and his councillors had taken this step.

“There is no doubt that the cost of parking in the city can be a barrier to shoppers and this is a fantastic way to encourage and showcase the fantastic experience that Cork has to offer to a range of people who have maybe got out of the habit of coming to town,” said CBA president, Sean Murphy.

Mr Healy pointed out that privately run car parks were also offering a number of discounts which would prove attractive to shoppers. He said discounts were available for Q-Park car parks at Eglinton Street, Grand Parade, Carroll’s Quay and St Finbarr’s. Merchants Quay is offering parking deals on Facebook.

“We’re hoping that this will make it easier to attract shoppers, not just from all over Cork but from all over Munster to the city,” said Mr Healy.

“It is more important than ever in the current economic climate that people shop locally to protect jobs.”

Mr Murphy said the Christmas lights would be switched on on November 18 — a week earlier than normal.

“With amazing Christmas celebrations on the Grand Parade and in the English Market kicking off a few days later, the city should be at its most enticing and enchanting,” he said.