New agreement will free up parking spaces in Ballina

Traders operating in the Market Square car park in Ballina have agreed to relocate to the nearby plaza in order to free up much-needed parking spaces in town.

​Head of the Ballina Municipal District Anna Connor told the September meeting of the Ballina Municipal District that a meeting had taken place with traders.

​“The majority of the traders have now agreed to move onto the public realm area, and that will improve operations in the car park at Market Square,” she said.

Cllr John O’Hara noted that elected members had long raised the issue through various notices of motion over the years.

“It's great you have recognised that parking is the problem, that is what's wrong, and people won't come [to Ballina] if there is no space to park," Cllr O'Hara said, adding that the Monday traders currently take up a significant amount of space in the car park, while the public realm area provides a suitable alternative location for their stalls.

Cllr O’Hara said the move would allow the markets to continue while also freeing up parking spaces, adding that a lack of parking can affect people’s decision to come into Ballina and, in turn, affects footfall for businesses.

Cllr Marie-Therese Duffy said it was positive to see more parking spaces being freed up given the high demand for them.

“It's great to see car parking spaces freed up, there is such a demand for those. It's great to see a conversation took place with the traders there. We welcome that,” she said.

Cllr Annie May Reape said she was delighted to see the update, adding that members of the public had raised parking difficulties with councillors over the years.

“The amount of complaints we received over the years. Monday is probably the one day that all the locals come into Ballina and they go round and round in circles looking for parking. At Christmas time it is horrendous,” she said.

• Published as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.