Developer calls for free parking in Cork City

One of Cork’s most influential developers has called for free parking to be made available in the city and for a rethink on controversial cycle lanes.

Owen O’Callaghan, managing director of O’Callaghan Properties, described the cost of parking as “the single greatest inhibition on retail recovery in Cork City”.

He called on the city council to permit free use to the public of multi-story car parks at Paul Street and North Main Street to restore “competitive balance” between the city centre and suburban shopping outlets.

“Why would anyone drive into the city to shop at an additional cost of anything up to €10 for a few hours and with the risk of parking tickets when they can drive to any of the suburban shopping centres, park for free and shop at their leisure?” he said.

Mr O’Callaghan, the developer of Merchant’s Quay, Paul Street, the North Main Street centre, Opera Lane and Mahon Point complexes, believes free parking in the city would attract more shoppers and would result in significant economic gain.

He also expressed concern about the development of new cycle lanes in the city and how they will affect the flow of traffic.

“I am concerned about the long-term impact of the multiplicity of cycle lanes being developed in the city,” he said. “The removal of traffic lanes to accommodate them will, I fear, see the city grinding to a halt more often and will make business more difficult and costly.”

Writing in the Evening Echo, Mr O’Callaghan praised the city council for their “huge contribution” to urban renewal, but said more needs to be done.

He is confident, however, if issues such as parking and traffic flow are dealt with, Cork will be on the road to economic recovery. “There is good reason for Cork to be positive about 2015,” he said.