Novel proposal for limited free parking in Ballina
The Head of Ballina Municipal District has said there needs to be "a balance" in revenue if free parking is to be made available to ratepayers in the town, .
Declan Turnbull made his comments at last week's Ballina Municipal District meeting after the matter was raised by Fine Gael Cllr John O’Hara who also sought to have 15 minutes of free parking in spaces outside all of the town’s pharmacies. Cllr O'Hara said that having free parking right outside chemist shops would be a massive help to the town’s elderly population and those who travel in from outlying areas.
Head of the municipal district Declan Turnbull said it may be possible to do this.
“We would have to look at relocating parking sports, how close they are to the junctions and all of that criteria. It would be done as part of an overall review of the [parking] by-laws,” he said.
However, Mr Turnbull said offering free parking to ratepayers would need to come with "a balance" to offset the loss in parking revenues to the council.
“It can be looked at but it would be a fairly hefty reduction in the income being taken in. We have to get the balance right there,” the district manager warned. “There is a loss of income and obviously fewer spaces in the car parks for all the people with cars sitting there all day long.”
