Posted online: Feb 25th, 2010

By Sinéad Flanagan
Editor

COUNCILLOR FIONA O’ Loughlin asked at a meeting of Kildare area committee last week that the Council half the amount charged for pay parking in Newbridge “in order to better support business” and also to half the fine penalty.
In replay to the question, a spokesperson for the Council said they are “anxious to do whatever it can to better support business, however, it should be noted that there are substantial ongoing costs relating to the enforcement of pay parking in Newbridge, i.e. costs associated with the parking contractor and legal costs. Furthermore, the proceeds of pay parking are dedicated to a prioritized list of works that the members have agreed.
“In addition, it should be noted that the cost of parking on Main Street in Newbridge is in line with other towns in the county with the exception of Naas town where the hourly rate has risen to €1.50 per hour. Compliance levels in Newbridge are consistently high with the vast majority of drivers complying with the pay parking bye laws.
“Having regard to all of the above, I would be reluctant to accede to the councillor’s request in the absence of some evidence that the cost of parking is discouraging drivers from parking in Newbridge.”