MALLOW: ‘WE PAY TOO MUCH’
TOWN GENERATED ALMOST ONE-THIRD OF TOTAL PARKING REVENUE IN CORK COUNTY FOR 2014
THE president of Mallow Chamber, Sean Lynch, has said that the town is “effectively subsidising” free parking in other towns across Cork through its strictly enforced parking regime.
Figures obtained by the chamber revealed that Mallow alone generated €606,883 of the €1,866,562 total parking revenue collected by the council across the county in 2014. After the deduction of expenditures, Mallow realised a surplus to the council’s exchequer of €283,171.
Kinsale was the next highest revenue generating town at €290,569, realising a surplus of €222,896.
The figures show that in towns where no pay parking regimes exist, the cost of issuing fines was actually higher than the income they generated.
“One has to ask why we are paying the lion’s share of contributions, when other towns actually cost the council money,” said Mr Lynch.
FIGURES for 2014 have revealed that Mallow Town contributed almost one-third of the total revenue generated through parking charges and fines across the entire county of Cork during the year.
The figures, sourced by Mallow Chamber under a freedom of information request, were contained in a Mallow ‘parking quiz’ information leaflet distributed this week to local businesses by the Chamber.
They showed that of the €1,866,562 raked in through parking across 13 county towns during 2014, €606,883 (or 32%) was generated solely in Mallow Town.
Of this total €327,094 was generated through on-street parking charges, €141,462 though off-street charges and a whopping €138,372 in parking fines.
The figure for Mallow showed that after expenditure of €323,711, the bulk of which being the money paid to Apoca the company contracted to monitor parking in the town, Mallow realised a surplus of €283,171 to Cork County Council’s coffers.
Kinsale was the next highest contributor, generating parking income of €290,569, realising a surplus of €222,896 after expenses.
Douglas raked in €271,990 in charges and fines. However, after expenditure it actually recorded a deficient to the council exchequer of €59,627.
Fermoy collected a total of €232,477 in revenue, realising a surplus of €71,896 after expenses.
The figures for 2014 showed small contributions for towns where pay parking is not in place, including Midleton, Blarney, Clonakilty, Skibbereen and Bantry/Dunmanway.
The sole revenue generated by these towns was through the payment of parking fines, with only Blarney (€936) actually realising a surplus with the other four towns all recording deficits for the 12-month period.
Speaking to The Corkman, Mallow Chamber president Sean Lynch said the figures showed that Mallow was effectively subsiding free parking in other towns.
This much has been highlighted through the questions on the ‘parking quiz’, which Mr Lynch said served to underline the unfair burden placed on Mallow through the strictly controlled pay parking regime in the town.
“While we put together the quiz as a bit of fun, it does make a very serious point. One has to ask why we are paying the lion’s share of contributions, when other towns actually cost the council money. We want people to be aware of this and ask why we are paying so much,” said Mr Lynch.
“Furthermore, by subsiding free parking in other towns are we not encouraging people to shop there instead of Mallow? All we in the Chamber are asking for is a level playing field that will allow us to compete on a par with other towns, particularly those within easy reach of Mallow,” he added.
Mr Lynch said that through the quiz, the Chamber was also seeking “positive” suggestions from the public as to how to improve parking in Mallow.
“Mallow is a great shopping town with a tremendous amount going for it. We want people to recognise that and improve the customer experience for people shopping here. Having a fair and equitable pay parking system is key to that aim,” he said.