Parking pressures spark calls to convert green spaces in Cork estates

Rising car ownership and adult children remaining in the family home are intensifying parking pressures in Cork housing estates, prompting fresh calls to convert some green spaces into parking areas

A councillor said the opening of the Macroom bypass had led to a noticeable increase in visitors and shoppers to the town and claimed that many of them were spending long periods driving around in search of a parking space. Picture: Dan Linehan

Growing parking shortages are fuelling tensions between neighbours in Cork housing estates and prompting renewed calls to convert some green spaces into parking areas.

Councillors say the problem is being driven by increasing car ownership and the growing number of adult children remaining in the family home because they cannot afford to move out.

The issue has already surfaced in Fermoy and Mallow and is now becoming increasingly apparent in Macroom, where residents and local representatives warn parking pressures are reaching a critical point.

It has been compounded by the fact that people living in flats are unable find parking close by and are forced to seek spaces in nearby estates, which is leading to friction among residents.

Independent councillor Martin Coughlan, the longest serving councillor in the region and a former town council foreman, told a meeting of Macroom Municipal District that the situation was getting out of hand and needs to be tackled.

Fine Gael councillor Ted Lucey said a lot of residential areas are being affected by the parking issue and had asked council engineers to undertake a survey of local estates to identify green areas that could potentially be converted into parking spaces.

Both councillors stressed they did not want to see open spaces lost but said the shortage of parking was creating difficulties for residents.

"Nobody wants to see them disappearing, but this is going to come to a head at some stage," said Mr Coughlan.

Engineers told councillors they would carry out a survey and furnish them with a report on the matter when they meet again in late September, following the summer recess.

Meanwhile, Fianna Fáil councillor Gobnait Moynihan renewed her call for a report on the total number of public parking spaces in Macroom, which has yet to be completed.

She said there was a shortage of both on-street and off-street parking in the town, a concern that has also been raised by other councillors.

She said the opening of the Macroom bypass had led to a noticeable increase in visitors and shoppers to the town and claimed that many of them were spending long periods driving around in search of a parking space.

Many visitors are unable to find a parking space and she fears that, unless the issue is addressed, it could damage tourism and lead to local shoppers instead travelling to Ballincollig or Killarney, where parking is more readily available.