Kilkenny city councillors vote in favour of parking proposals, with the exception of the Mayor

Proposals to amend the current parking charges in Kilkenny City were passed at a recent meeting of the Kilkenny City Municipal Committee.

Director of Services at Kilkenny County Council, Tim Butler outlined the proposals to the meeting and pointed out that the last time the parking byelaws were reviewed was in 2010.

“Parking controls are in place to benefit everyone. We have to try and deter illegal parking and maintain the traffic flow,” he said.

Mr Butler also referenced the ‘queuing for carparks’ in the city and remarked that it was ‘bad for climate. He also pointed out that ‘a quick turnover helps business’ and that the new proposals would ‘encourage alternative forms of transport such as walking and cycling and using the public bus system and would deter inappropriate parking in residential areas.

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At the meeting it was pointed out that at present low cost parking is causing congestion both at St Mary’s carpark and at the council carpark at the Market Yard. Under the proposals free car parking will be removed except or barriered carparks.

Under the new proposals parking on High Street is prohibited except for set down and there will be close monitoring of loading bays and fines will be imposed unless vehicles are loading and unloading and that accessible bays should have a maximum stay limit.

Cllr Maria Dollard said that the proposals are ‘a good move’ and Cllr John Coonan described them as ‘fair for business’.

Cllr Joe Malone also supported them and said that there was also a need to promote the use of bikes and public bus adding that ‘we have to start somewhere’

Meanwhile Cllr Eugene McGuinness also supported the proposals.

“They are not perfect but we have to take a leap forward and free up our city,” adding that he thinks ‘it is a major step forward’.

Cllrs Andrew McGuinness and Martin Brett also supported the proposals while the Mayor of Kilkenny, Cllr David Fitzgerald said that he had ‘concerns in relation to timing’ adding that ‘the Government has said that we should be award of the cost of living’ and remarked that the proposals were ‘unreasonable’.

The motion was carried by all members of the Kilkenny City Municipal Committee with the exception of Cllr David Fitzgerald who voted against the proposals.