Opposition to new charge at park and ride
MEMBERS OF Greystone Municipal District reviewed 181 submissions on the draft parking bye-laws last week at their meeting.
Members considered the submissions made, with recommendations to go on to the full council meeting next week.
They were asked not to agree any changes which would result in an overall reduction in income from the budget figures adopted previously.
Each of the 181 submissions was considered by the Greystones Municipal District Engineer and Administrator. The majority of the submissions were from commuters opposed to the introduction of a €2 daily charge for Greystones Park & Ride, primarily on economic grounds. Submissions stated that imposing parking charges was unfair as it is targeting commuters who were already paying a disproportionate amount for Dart tickets from Greystones, compared to those commuting from Bray.
The officials said that the Greystones Park and Ride is the only free car park for commuters on the east coast. Other commuters pay the Irish Rail daily charge of €4.50.
They said that the charge would discourage those within walking and cycling distance of the station from using the car and therefore encourage more walking and cycling. This would also free up spaces for commuters from further afield who would otherwise use the N11.
They said that the income could subsidise the reduction of other parking charges requested in submissions received and would provide a fund which would be retained within the district to carry out public realm works.
Cllr Nicol Lawless said that she was always against charging for the park and ride. She said that the idea was to decrease the number of cars on the road and this would increase the cost of commuting.
‘We did agree that we would wait and see what the outcome was of public consultation,’ said Cllr Gerry Walsh. ‘It’s pretty clear that people are not in favour of this.’
Cllr Grainne McLoughlin said that if you ask anyone in the country if they are in favour of paid parking the answer would be no. ‘We have so little money, I think we should charge,’ she said.
Cllr Tom Fortune said that the car park was not put there to generate income. ‘ The parking was not intended as an income stream and it shouldn’t be. I don’t think we should implement charges,’ he said.
Cllr Jennifer Whitmore noted that 134 people had submitted on this issue. ‘ There’s a difference between going out and asking people do they want a charge on something and then writing in,’ she said. ‘People are paying €4 more on the Dart from Greystones than from Bray,’ she said. ‘ They can’t really absorb that extra cost. Maybe in the future, if there was a reduction in fares. The reason for the car park was to facilitate public transport.’
District Manager Michael Nicholson said that 134 people does not represent a population of 16,800. He said that a modest charge would free up spaces, and also provide for another 70 spaces to be created.