Local authorities must standardise parking charges to save town centres – Coghlan

Fine Gael Kerry Senator and Seanad Chief Whip, Paul Coghlan, has today (Wednesday) repeated his call for action to be taken on parking charges, which he said are crippling town centres across the country. Senator Coghlan made his comments during Order of Business in the Seanad.

“Extortionate parking charges are having a hugely detrimental impact on town centres right across the country. This problem has been escalating for a number of years, and yet local authorities remain largely inactive on the issue. High parking charges are acting as a deterrent, driving shoppers out of towns and into large, out-of-town retail parks and shopping centres, where parking is usually free. The end result is local businesses are on their knees.

“Local authorities should be doing more to safeguard our town centres. The current system is counter-productive. If parking charges are keeping customers at bay, how can we expect businesses to generate enough profits to pay their rates? It is time local authorities took a long hard look at this situation; they should be trying to support local businesses in any way possible, rather than helping to push them over the edge.

“The sooner local authorities realise that they must match in-town and out-of-town parking charges, the better.   A standardised arrangement could give them much-needed additional funding, as well as helping town centres and businesses struggling to survive. Generally, people want to support their local businesses. But they cannot be blamed if parking charges make shopping in their local town centre completely unappealing.

“Earlier this year, RGDATA, which represents 4,000 family-owned shops, carried out research which shows that there are many inconsistencies from one area to the next. The group has called for national guidelines on parking rates to be introduced; something I believe would be a constructive move.   Standardised arrangements would provide the level playing pitch that is so badly needed.

“I intend to raise this matter with the Minister for the Environment, Phil Hogan TD, and I believe the Seanad should hold a debate on the matter.”

ENDS