Free parking on street this Saint Patrick's Day

THE decision taken on the part of the DfI to introduce free parking on Saint Patrick’s Day in Newry has been welcomed by Eamonn Connolly.

The Newry Bid manager was commenting in the wake of the Department allowing for free parking in controlled on street parking zones this March 17.

Saint Patrick's Day will now join New Year’s Day and several other calendar days in which motorists will not be required to pay a fee when parking their car in the controlled parking zone which extends the length of the city centre.

Whilst Mr Connolly is glad that the infrastructure minister Liz Kimmins has acquiesced to the request made on the part of his organisation to afford celebrants with free parking on Saint Patrick’s Day, according to Eamonn this is just one step towards the ultimate goal of hopefully getting the on street parking zone in Newry replaced with a more equitable system.

Welcome decision

“We welcome the extension” said Eamonn

“It is very welcome because people were getting tickets on previous years. I had historic complaints and the removal of this is part of an outcome of engaging with minister Kimmins who has listened.

“It is a very positive development and we thank the minister for listening.

“It is part of our ongoing lobbying and we continue to lobby for the removal of the controlled parking zone entirely and the replacement by a system akin to what happens in other town centres.

“We are actively lobbying to get the removal of the controlled parking zone. What the final manifestation will be I don't know. The focus will be the removal of the controlled parking zone because this involves a change in legislation.”

As Eamonn explains the complete removal of the controlled parking zone in Newry does not necessarily pave the way for free all day parking for those who drive into the city centre, but the laying of the groundwork for a fairer way in which parking is enforced.

“In reality we welcome parking enforcement but we need fair parking enforcement. The problem we have in Newry is that parking enforcement is not fair. Anything to alleviate this is welcome but ultimately, they are only temporary measures until we get the removal of a controlled parking zone and a replacement with a system akin to what is in other town centres.

“In some it is two hours free in others it is one hour free it depends.”

The Saint Patrick’s Day parade in Newry starts from 1pm at the Albert Basin.