Longford Municipal District: Call to review paid parking times

Longford County Council will review the time frame for paid parking in the county town following a notice of motion supported by Longford Municipal District members.

At a meeting of the MD Cathaoirleach Martin Monaghan tabled a motion proposing parking times be revised in Longford town from 9am to 5pm: “I believe that this amendment to parking times would benefit businesses and the public.”
Cllr Monaghan explained that a small change would encourage more people to come to town to shop: “We probably just need to relax the rules a little in the morning and evening to give people an opportunity to get shopping in. The hours of 8:30am to 6:30pm are just a bit too much.”

The proposal was seconded by Cllr Seamus Butler. Cllr Gerry Warnock said it was a common sense motion: “There may be a small budgetary impact, but I think we are at a point where we have to be real about what our retail sector is going through. Anything we can do as a council to encourage shoppers, during the week in particular, is good.”
Cllr Warnock added: “It may help some business and I think any budgetary changes we have to implement would be welcome. It is something we could do as a mark of solidarity for local businesses.”

Cllr Butler said the changes could help local retailers: “A lot of small to medium size businesses are struggling. There have been increases in Employers PRSI, increases in the minimum wage, changes to the provision of pensions. All these things add up.”

Senior Executive Engineer, Eamon Bennett, outlined considerations necessary for the change: “Changes to the parking times will require a change in the byelaws, all the signage will have to be changed. We are reviewing the byelaws this year so it will be included in the review.”