End electioneering and get best parking result for the town
Dear Sir,
It is seldom I drive down town. With an ALDI, LIDL, DEALZ and Mell Stores we are more or less a self contained parish. When I do drive and park I rarely put in the full amount. I judge how long I will be add a little extra and purchase a ticket. Why buy an hours parking and then sit in the vehicle waiting for the time to run out. There was an occasion when, lacking change, I paid for two hours luckily I managed to sell the remaining time, at a reduced fee to another motorist.
At the moment we are still in a Park Free era and I noticed that the Free Car Park in Mell is at least half empty. So either there is a reduction in the amount of cars on the road or those who work in the downtown area are taking advantage of the lack of ticketing to park all day thus depriving shoppers, who pay their wages, of parking where they spend their cash. It is therefore obvious that parking charges are vital, not only as Local Authority income but to the financial well being of retail business.
Naturally there was a bit of electioneering going on by some Councillors. Fifty cent an hour is not going to provide funds to maintain our historic monuments or paint to make Drogheda look its best for the Fleadh. That is what electioneering is about me,me, me and to hell with the realities.
Mayor Smith made a valid point when he pointed out that unlike Dundalk Drogheda has a number of charge free car parks. A reduced charge could see a parking fee introduced at these facilities.
If Councillors. Godfrey and Callan are so concerned about parking they would be better off seeking a park and ride park on or near the North Road. Most European cities provide these parks in order to encourage motorists to use public transport rather than drive into towns and cities. It is also more environmentally friendly. Then again it is easier to seek cheap election publicity than seek solutions to real problems.
I worked in Dundalk many moons ago. I had cause to use the Marsh’s Car Park. It cost zero cents because my parking was validated by the shop where I made a purchase. This also occurred in Killarney. Perhaps some of our town shopping centres could consider this notion.
Meanwhile anyone want to buy a parking token, one hour left only fifty cent. Yours, Gerry Floyd