Shortage of parking spaces in Ballina is impacting business
Councillors have called for additional parking spaces in Ballina.
Mayo County Council has asked traffic wardens to increase patrols in Ballina town centre to “identify parking trends” after councillors called for additional parking spaces, warning that the shortage is deterring visitors and harming local businesses.â â
Cllr John O'Hara tabled a motion at the September meeting of the Ballina Municipal District calling for additional parking at Diamond's Car Park and identified a nearby site that he said could accommodate up to 60 spaces. He said the lack of parking was deterring people from visiting Ballina and, in turn, harming local businesses. He told the meeting he experienced the problem firsthand when he struggled to find a parking space during a trip to town for a haircut in August.
The Fine Gael councillor said what should have been a quick trip into town turned into an hour-and-a-half ordeal as he drove around looking for somewhere to park.
â“I tried to get parking in the street, and I tried every place around, but there is no car parking,” he said.
âHe said he eventually had to park down by the Cathedral and walk into town to his barber.
â“There is a need for another car park. We have the space at the front with those ESB spaces, vacant space there. Why don't we use it?” he asked.
âHe said turning the space opposite the old ESB into a car park “would be worth its weight in gold”.
â“It’s time we get more [car parking spaces] because it is not fair to the businesses,” he said.
âCllr O’Hara said local businesses often raise the issue with him, and they are extremely concerned that people are being put off coming into town because of the situation.
“We want a high-rise car park there, it is the only thing that will keep people in town,” he said. “They come into Ballina, but there is no parking.” â “Car parking spaces are premium in Ballina."
âThe motion was seconded by Cllr Marie-Thérèse Duffy, who said the site identified by Cllr O’Hara near the old ESB building “makes a lot of sense”.
She said a wall at the site could be removed to connect it with the existing car park and “open up about 30 spaces”.
â“You can be doing five laps sometimes to try and find a space,” she added.
âIn response to the motion, senior executive engineer Theresa Durkin said that, after inspecting the car park, the council asked traffic wardens to increase their presence in the area to “identify parking trends”.
âHead of the Ballina Municipal District Anna Connor said the council had spoken with the wardens and noted that the town centre car parks are extremely busy.
â“A lot of people coming into town are coming in for a short length of time, so we are increasing patrols to make sure that it's short-term,” she said. “The wardens will increase patrols in their area and on the streets to ensure that.”
- Published as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
