Mayo councillors reject council's Christmas parking proposals

WESTPORT councillors have rejected a proposal to amend the car parking rates in line with the rest of the council and instead offer free all day parking.

Mayo County Council had proposed to amend the car parking charges in car parks around the county to introduce free parking after 2pm during the Christmas season.

Ballina councillors agreed to the proposal last week but at this week's monthly meeting of the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District, Westport councillors rejected the proposal.

Instead councillors in Westport decided that parking will be free all day from December 6 until December 30 with one councillor saying 'we are not the same as around the county'.

Seamus Ó Mongáin, Head of the Municipal District, made the proposal saying that in order to bring uniformity across the county, it was proposed to have made parking free in council-run car parks free from 2pm onwards.

Joanne Grehan, Director of Services added: “It does mean there is one single message going out from Mayo County Council on radio messaging and social media and that is there is free car parking for Christmas in every car park across the county from 2pm. That is easy to understand.”

However, Westport-based councillors felt that the message will lead to confusion and Independent councillor John O'Malley questioned why people who shop in the morning will be punished.

“I find that difficult now. There will be a lot of people who want to come into town early and get their shopping done. Are we going to charge them just because they want to come in early,” he questioned.

It was proposed that instead two hours free grace will be provided to shoppers throughout the day but Mr Ó Mongáin said that it would be impossible to police.

Cllr Peter Flynn commented that while policing might be an issue, the two hour free parking was 'about sending the message' to people not to park all day in the car parks.

There were also concerns raised regarding James Street car park which already provides free parking up to 11am. Cllr Brendan Mulroy said that it would be confusing to tell people that parking is free up to 11am and free after 2pm but you have to pay between 11am and 2pm.

He added he wanted people to have an enjoyable experience in Westport this Christmas and not worry about paying for parking.

“I want people to have a very positive experience of Westport. There is a feel good factor around Christmas and we are trying to bring people in and not take money off them. We have the highest rates in the country and we have to do our best at Christmas to sell Westport and do the right thing for people coming into town,” he said.

Cllr Mulroy proposed leaving the parking free over Christmas and this was seconded by Cllr O'Malley. Cllr Flynn added that if the ticket machines did not have the technology to allow two hours free parking then the council should revert to having free parking all day. Ms Grehan said it would be helpful to adopt the council's proposal but it was their choice. She agreed to check the technology on the machines and could let them know soon if it could accommodate two hour free parking.

Louisburgh-based councillor Chris Maxwell encouraged people to shop locally in other towns around the municipal district adding there were no parking charges in Belmullet, Newport or Louisburgh.