West Cork councillors: We won’t accept paid parking

Councillors in West Cork have sent a clear message to officials, saying they will not accept the introduction of paid parking in the region.

At a meeting of the council’s Western Division in Clonakilty yesterday, Cllr Christopher O’Sullivan (FF) said it was his understanding that the eight newly created municipal authorities in the county had the right to either introduce parking charges or scrap them.

Mr O’Sullivan said he was worried that council officials are considering a countywide policy on pay parking and expressed fears that they intend to introduce it in all towns.

He said his hometown of Clonakilty had prospered because it didn’t have pay parking.

“Now a doubt — about paid parking — has arisen and it’s worrying,” Mr O’Sullivan told council officials.

“Free parking has proved attractive for tourism and businesses. I am a member of Clonakilty Chamber of Commerce and there are fears about introducing a charge.”

Cllr Noel O’Donovan (FG) said paid parking “would kill Clonakilty” and warned that its introduction would only lead to the development of out-of-town shopping centres which would have a detrimental affect.

Cllr Pat Gerard Murphy (FF), the newly elected chairman of the Western Division, said: “We need to say clearly to officials, ‘hands off our parking’.”

Cllr Mary Hegarty (FG), who is based in Bantry, a town which also has free parking, said she couldn’t envisage its imposition in the current economic climate.

“Until we see better economic growth I say ‘hands off’ too.”

County mayor Cllr Alan Coleman (FF) said he was concerned a commitment given to the municipal districts was “being rowed back on at the moment” by council officials.

Bandon-based Cllr Margaret Murphy-O’Mahony (FF) said she had unsuccessfully fought against the introduction of paid parking in her hometown.

But Cllr Kevin Murphy (FG) insisted paid parking had been good for Bandon. “It has freed up car spaces and the towns that have pay parking are booming because of it,” he said.

His comment was hotly disputed by Ms Murphy-O’Mahony. “If you want to speak to any of the businesses which have closed in Bandon they’ll tell you paid parking was one of the top three reasons for it,” she said.

Councillors agreed to send a motion to the full meeting of the county council next Monday seeking to ensure parking charges are not introduced in Clonakilty, Skibbereen, and Bantry.