Suspension of pay parking may mean €1 million in lost revenue
PAY parking is not being enforced anywhere in Wexford during the coronavirus crisis and the County Council stands to lose close to a €1 million in income if the situation continues for a number of months.
Parking on streets and in council car parks is now free, with traffic wardens having been stood down from normal duties but unauthorised parking in disabled bays, loading bays and double yellow lines or parking that causes obstruction, will still be subject to penalty.
Wexford County Council takes in approximately €2.9 million in parking revenue every year, and for each week that the public health emergency continues, that represents a loss of about €55,000 a week in total from the four main towns.
‘ That is a big hit. The income from car parking is a hugely significant amount. By comparison, the increase in rates and local property tax which was ring-fenced for major developments, that represents just over €2 million,’ said Director of Services Eamonn Hore.
‘I reckon if it goes on for another three to four months, the reduction will in the region of €1 million. To be losing that amount is a big hit to the County Council but we are hoping that when this is all over, the government will give some stimulous or recompense to the local authorities,’ he said.
The income from parking goes into a general Council budget and is used for a variety of purposes including the local authority’s own outlay on road maintenance.
The enforcement of pay parking in the county has been suspended since an announcement by the Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar on March 27, advising local authorities to relax the restrictions on on-street pay parking to meet the needs of essential workers.
The government lockdown, which closed businesses, resulted in a dramatic reduction in the volume of traffic in towns, in any event.
‘ The only way we could practically achieve that was to stand down the traffic wardens’, said the Director. Since then, some traffic wardens have been re-deployed in other areas.
But people who park in a disabled space or a delivery loading bay will still risk getting a ticket, in what Mr. Hore called ‘ light touch enforcement’.
Council Communications Officer, David Minogue said the relaxation on pay parking followed a national government directive to facilitate essential workers at the frontline, including health and care workers and those employed in supermarkets and vital services.
‘It is a recognition of the efforts they are making, particularly when there is parking availabity. It is a gesture to them at this time,’ he said.
‘ There will be a loss of revenue, not just in relation to parking but also in other areas. There will be a shortfall in a number of departments.’