Council budgetincreaseto parking

PAY parking in Dundalk and Drogheda could increase to €1.20 per hour, following a proposal to hike the rates at Louth County Councils annual budget meeting

Chief Executive Joan Martin told councillors that in a bid to provide a balanced budget she had to find additional revenue for the local authority.

She said by including this increase in the budget she was avoiding making cuts to areas such as Tidy Towns funding, library resources and festivals.

She proposed increasing pay parking charges from the current €1 rate to €1.20 per hour in both Louth towns.

In addition a €1 a day fee would apply to all day parking car parks in Drogheda. All day parking in Dundalk would remain at €2 per day.

Councillors called for greater investment in pay parking machines which were described as ‘ barely working’ to include options for payment including contactless and remote app.

The decision on whether to adopt the budget for 2019 with these increases was expected to go to a vote of council members yesterday (Monday) evening.