Would pay parking stop the parking chaos in Mitchelstown?
Parking mayhem has ensued in Mitchelstown over the past month and with the worsening situation, people in the town are beginning to question whether or not pay parking might hold the solution.
The Avondhu learned this week that Cork County Council are actively considering the possibility of putting something in place to solve the dire parking situation.
The question is whether that solution will come in the guise of pay parking or by getting someone in to monitor the 2 hour free parking and do the job that the former traffic warden undertook.
One councillor is of the opinion that pay parking may well be the best option, as Cllr Noel McCarthy said that pay parking is needed to maintain control over the parking in any town.
He said that while places like the Square or other car parks could be free, the main street should offer 20 minutes or a half hour free parking before charging a nominal fee such as 60c an hour.
Cllr McCarthy argued that without pay parking, people will take advantage of the lack of monitoring and people working in the town will end up taking the spaces, meaning that potential customers will have no choice but to drive on through Mitchelstown, because they can't get a space.
A regular sight in Mitchelstown since the traffic warden retired, are cars parked on double yellow lines, parked between spaces, stopped in loading bays and cars being 'abandoned' rather than parked in many situations.
"There needs to be a system in place and there needs to be someone who will monitor that in a reasonable way using common sense," the councillor said.
Published:
Friday 2nd August 11:13am
