NAAS, 10 October: by Trish Whelan. Naas UDC intends to charge for parking in its three car parks as well as on the town streets. Town engineer John McGowan suggested ‘pay to park’ should include Corban’s Lane (above), Hedderman’s Yard and the car park at the rear of the Town Hall. The scheme will be in place by February 2002.
The Parking Bye-Laws were drawn up by the town engineer who said he wanted them ‘rubber-stamped’ by the UDC’s October meeting. They include plans for taxi areas in the town. There are currently 40 taxi plates operating in Naas and the taxi drivers are seeking additional rank spaces.
Details of the scheme, with locations of pay and display areas, were put to councillors at a special ‘in committee’ meeting last week.
It is understood councillors want Hedderman’s Yard restricted for long-term parking while short-term users could use Corban’s Lane.
There will be a reduced daily rate of £1 a day, or £28 a month for long-term parking.
Residents permits will be issued to people who live on the Main Street and in the pay and display zones, including Basin Street, New Row, Fair Green and the Main Street. Residents parking only will be allowed in housing estates near the town centre. This means no outside long-term parking in Ashgrove, Kingsfurze, The Sycamores, Spring Gardens or any of the other estates close to town.
However, no final decisions were made at last week’s ‘informal’ meeting.
The changed plans will now go back on public display when members of the public can make their submissions.
An explanatory circular is to be sent to local shops and housing estates.
After hearing the proposal to levy a charge on Corban’s Lane at the September UDC meeting, Cllr Charlie Byrne (left) told the town engineer: “If you charge to park in Corban’s Lane you’re going to do away with the lot of us.”
It later emerged it would also apply to the other UDC car parks as well.
Cllr Byrne says: “When this hits Naas it will be like a Scud missile as parking in every corner, lane and car park will be charged.”
However Cllr Mary Glennon disagreed. She said: “It will be like a new broom sweeping the streets, freeing up all the available car parking spaces for people who actually want to shop in the town.”
Cllr Glennon added that Naas ‘will have to get going on providing Park and Ride facilities for commuters’.
Meantime, Naas UDC has given developers O’Farrell & McDermott a deadline by which to complete the sale of Corban’s Lane car park. That date is understood to be 12 October.
The agreement to sell to the developers was made in December 1999 at a special in-committee meeting of Naas UDC. It was voted in by 6-3.
The matter has since been in the hands of the Council’s legal advisors and the Council has not, as yet, been given any further legal documents or been made aware of any proposals regarding the site.
In the meantime, Naas UDC is free to charge motorists to park there.
©2001knn