14 July 2003: Pay parking for Newbridge was agreed at last week’s monthly meeting of Kildare County Council.
Senator John Dardis proposed the monies collected from pay parking would be given to the town.
Cllr John O’Neill, who lives in the town centre, said he would support pay parking, with reservations. He wanted Kildare County Council to acquire more public car parking in the town centre ‘and not be providing little ones in small alleyways to squeeze money out of people’.
He said while not against its introduction, back in 1978 there was not enough car parking available and business was lost from the town. “In the 90s the Urban Renewal Scheme revamped the whole area while putting some 1500 people in the centre of the the town (in Eyre Street and Main Street) without providing any parking facilities.”
However, more people now live in the town centre than live in Naas town centre. He cited two recent planning permissions for Newbridge, one involving 40-50 apartments, with no parking facilities. He also had a problem with the fact that there are no local authority car parks in the town other than at the GAA grounds.
“It’s essential car parking is brought in in Newbridge but on a proper basis where we have sufficient car parking and do not hunt people out of the town,” he stressed.
Cllr Fiona O’Loughlin seconded the proposal saying tough decisions were necessary at this stage. She said: “We have tried to strike a balance between business customers and residents.” Business, she added, had been starved in Newbridge. She agreed with the proposal taking into account the 15 minute free parking in two areas of Main Street, passes for residents and if all the money collected 'will be ring fenced for Newbridge'.
The plan also met with the approval of Cllr Fionuala Dukes while Deputy Sean O’Fearghail declared it ‘long overdue’.
The scheme is subject to a six-month review to iron out teething problems.
Charges are as follows:
1 hour zone: E1 per hour; 20c for 15 minutes
2 hour zone: E2 per two hours; 20c for 30 minutes
Long stay car park: E3 per day
15 minutes free parking will be allowed in each of two designated
loading bays outside the hours of 12.00 noon - 6.00 p.m.
