Council has lost €544,000 on paid parking

Council has lost €544,000 on parking, says Claremorris Chamber


Ciara Galvin 

THE paid parking scheme operated by Mayo County Council has lost €544,000 from 2008 to 2013 (inclusive),  the Claremorris Chamber of Commerce has discovered.
The findings, contained in a study of the County Council’s published budgets, indicate that the cumulative loss could surpass €1.1 million by the end of 2015.
The chamber has renewed its appeal for one hour of free parking per day in the town.
Commenting on the figures, Chamber President Jimmy Flynn said: “On the County Council’s budget figures, paid parking has lost money every year since 2008. There isn’t one year it turned a profit. A bad recession in Claremorris is  made worse by poor planning and bureaucratic bungling in Castlebar.”
Speaking to The Mayo News Flynn said there were six towns, six rates and six rules within the county, adding that if Westport has free parking periods other towns should have it too.
The study by Claremorris Chamber reveals the average annual loss on paid parking from 2008 to 2011 (inclusive) was almost €41,000. This climbed to €97,000 in 2012. Costs rose sharply in 2013, pushing the year’s deficit to €283,000.
Flynn said bad planning in Ballinrobe and Claremorris has resulted in business being driven to big multi-nationals in the towns, where parking is free.
“Time and again, we hear Mayo County Council say they need the money. It’s always revenue, never cost. They collected €2.6 million in charges but spent €3.5 million on administration. Our town centre is being bled dry by paid parking, yet big multiples with deep pockets in out-of-town centres are allowed to provide free parking,” he said.
This year, the projected loss is higher again – €286,000. In all, the budgets show €830,000 could be lost by Mayo County Council on paid parking by he end of 2014. This rises to over €1.1 million  if the projected loss for 2014 is repeated in 2015.
Mr Flynn castigated the council for sticking with a scheme that, by its own figures, loses money every year.
The chamber president said the effects of free parking at Christmas in the town were plain to see. “People have a spring in their step when they’re not worrying about the warden,” he said.
 “If we have the first hour free on the street all year round, like Westport, our town centre will buzz all the time, new shops will open and rates revenue will rise. Surely it’s worth trying? It’s better than sticking with a policy that does not make money […] and is on course to lose over €1.1 million,” said Flynn.
Mr Flynn said the chamber had not been in contact with the council on the matter but that it has been told nothing can be done.
A spokesperson for Mayo County Council said if the chamber wanted to get into talks over the ongoing parking issue it should contact the council directly.