‘Leave parking for business customers’ – Kilkenny Council warns all-day parkers
Comprehensive analysis of the parking facilities in towns in Kilkenny needs to take place to determine if there is a need for additional spaces or new parking bylaws.
The thorny issue was raised at the May meeting of Callan Thomastown municipal district councillors, continuing a discussion that began at their previous meeting, when the possibility of introducing pay-parking in Thomastown was mooted.
“While it looks like we have plenty of parking, it’s about how long people stay,” Cllr Deirdre Cullen, highlighting what she sees as the problem in town centres.
She proposed funding a survey to get a clear view of the issues “because people tell us there is no parking in Thomastown but we know we have car parks.”
She said ‘having a look’ at what is happening would be important.
“If people can’t stop (to shop) while going through Thomastown, that’s a problem,” Cllr Cullen said.
Supporting the call, Cllr Michael Doyle said the ‘timeline’ of people parking in Thomastown is the issue.
“I have no problem with an hour or two free parking but they need to move then to let people do their business,” he said.
Area Engineer Declan Murphy agreed that a survey is needed as they don’t know how long people are staying and where and why spaces are occupied or empty.
However, to determine that they need a survey and to do that they need funding, Mr Murphy told councillors.
Director of Services, Fiona Deegan, said the message also needed to go out that if retailers are parking there they can’t all day if they want parking for customers. She urged them to use alternative facilities in that case, adding that locals also needed to get the message that parking spaces are needed by local retailers.
At the previous meeting it was suggested that the introduction of paid parking would encourage more short-term parking in Thomastown and so allow customers of the businesses to park close by to carry out their business.
The short stay area is not being used for that, Cllr Doyle said on that occasion.
Any changes to parking rules will have to be addressed through new by-laws. The matter needs to be discussed at council management level.