Cost of some daily parking in Westport set to increase by 300%
The proposed changes would replace the parking byelaws passed in 2018 and aim to support the effective management of parking
Mayo County Council has launched a public consultation on proposed changes to parking charges in Westport town and Murrisk, with daily parking rates in some areas set to rise by as much as 300%.
The proposed changes cover several parking zones across Westport, with most areas seeing an increase in both hourly and daily rates.
Members of the public, businesses, community groups and other interested stakeholders are being invited to have their say on the plans, which are open for public consultation.
Details of the proposed changes are available for viewing at the Westport Municipal District office, where members of the public can examine how the new charges would affect each parking zone in the town and in Murrisk.
Proposed rate changes
The Pink Zone will see no change under the proposals, continuing to allow motorists to stay for two hours for €1, with the first hour remaining free.
However, other zones face significant increases. The Blue Zone, currently charged at 60c per hour with a daily rate of €3, would rise to €1 per hour with a daily rate of €5.
James Street and Mill Street car parks, both currently charged at 70c per hour with a €3 daily rate, would increase to €1 per hour, but with no daily option available.
The High Street/Upper Mill Street car park, currently 60c per hour with a €2 daily rate, is proposed to rise to €1 per hour and €5 daily — representing the steepest daily increase of 150%.
Leisure Park car park, currently 70c per hour with a €3 daily rate, would also move to €1 per hour and €5 daily under the proposals.
Permit charges across the zones are also included in the plans, with James Street and Mill Street permits proposed at €350 per year or €35 per month, the Blue Zone at €200 per year or €20 per month, and High Street at €240 per year or €25 per month. The Pink Zone would continue to have no business permits available, alongside residential permits, while the Leisure Park has no permit option.
Reasons behind the proposals
Mayo County Council said the proposed changes are intended to support the effective management of parking, improve accessibility, encourage a greater turnover of spaces in key town centre locations, and contribute to the ongoing maintenance and development of parking infrastructure in the area.
Members of the public and other stakeholders are being encouraged to review the proposals and take part in the consultation process before any final decisions are made on the new charges.
The Westport Chamber would welcome your written observations by email before September 20th - [email protected] or alternatively you can contact Mayo County Council directly.
For more information and details on how to make a submission privately click this link.
The public inspection period commenced on August 25th, 2026, and will remain open until September 15th, 2026.
Following the inspection period, formal written feedback and observations can be submitted until September 29th, 2026.
There will more in-depth reporting on this contentious issue in Tuesday’s edition of The Mayo News.
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme