Parking charges to increase in Kilkenny - click for full details!

Major changes to parking in the city are on the way, including increases to charges in several areas.

It follows a vote by local councillors to amend by-laws on Friday. Following workshops and discussions it was decided to introduce a number of changes including an increase of the hourly rate of parking in some areas.

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Director of Services at Kilkenny County Council Tim Butler told the members of the Kilkenny City Municipal District, at their monthly meeting, that a number of items need to be considered ‘to achieve an efficient and equitable parking management system.’

These include the need to deter illegal parking which may impact on the safety of other road users, to manage parking within the city more effectively in areas where there is evidence for excess demand for available spaces, to ensure accessible bays are kept clear for use of valid permit holders and to ensure loading bays are kept clear for use by commercially taxed vehicles for the purpose of loading and unloading.

Mr Butler also told the meeting that an increase of turnover of parking spaces is needed to ensure greater availability of parking spaces where they are needed.

Members of the Kilkenny Municipal District all voted in favour of the changes and the proposals were passed with the exception of Mayor of Kilkenny David Fitzgerald.

The mayor voted against the proposals.

Parking charges will be amended in the core of the city centre (Bateman Quay, The Parade, Patrick Street Lower, John Street, Friary Street and James Street) to €2 per hour, charged in 15-minute segments (50 cents per 15 minutes) for a maximum stay of one hour.

Parking charges of €1 per hour (charged in 30 minute segments for a maximum of two hours) will be charged on Castle Road, Irishtown, Dean Street and John’s Green.

A number of areas of the city which are designated as medium stay will be charged at €1 per hour, with no maximum duration and Park Magic spaces will increase from €1 to €2 per day.

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In the city charges will increase to €2 per hour at the barriered carparks at Market Yard, Friary Street and St Mary’s carpark with the first 15 minutes free. At the barriered car park at the Fair Green the charge is now €5 per day, with the first 30 minutes free.

Meanwhile at the short stay non-barriered carpark at Horsebarrack Lane motorists will be charged €1 per hour with a maximum stay of two hours while the daily charge at the medium stay carparks at Dean Street, Wolfe Tone Street, Abbey Square and Carnegie Library will increase to €5 while at St Canice’s and Fair Green the daily charge is now €3 per day.

Mr Butler told members that low parking charges in some carparks were leading to on-street queuing causing congestion and safety issues, citing the Market Yard and St Mary’s carparks as examples.

He also said that the combination of free on-street parking and low parking charges was leading to a lack of parking availability in some areas for resident permit holders.

The meeting also heard that free High Street parking has led to issues with loading and congestion. Under the agreed new proposals parking on High Street will be prohibited but set-down will be allowed.

Currently parking permits are being issued free of charge to medical and public health workers and medical practices have desnignated bays free of charge for sole use upon request. Under the new proposals an annual charge will now apply of €1,250 for a five day a week annual permit and €1,500 for a seven day a week annual permit.

Meanwhile approximately 50 additional EV charging points are also planned for the city. Parking charges will now be applied to EV bays.

Kilkenny County Council receives approximately €2million in parking charges and fines per annum.

The changes are expected to be in operation around the city from July 1.