Free parking proposal for Kilrush

Kilrush Town Council is likely to introduce 30 minutes of free parking next year. Business has fallen in the town centre, which has been partly attributed to paid parking in the town’s main streets, while parking at the Tesco and Aldi supermarkets on the Ennis road is free.

The parking issue in the town centre was debated at length at last Thursday’s June meeting of Kilrush Town Council. All councillors felt that change was needed in the Kilrush parking bylaws but they differed as to what should be done.
Councillor Liam O’Looney proposed the 30-minute free parking initiative, while Councillor Marian McMahon Jones seconded the motion.
“We’re not compromising hopefully too much on our income,” Councillor O’Looney said.
Councillor Ian Lynch stated that if the new parking arrangements were introduced, following a period of public consultation, the new bylaws would have to be “rigidly policed”.
Councillor Lynch said, “If we let people abuse it, they’re only making a fool of us.”
Place de Plouzane will continue to be free for parking, while suggestions that Mondays be free of a parking charge in Kilrush town centre were not supported. Councillors felt that the 30-minute free parking every day was a better idea.
Earlier in the meeting acting town manager Nora Kaye proposed a charge of €1 for three hours parking but this too was rejected.
The meeting heard that the 30-minute parking initiative might attract more short-stay people to the town centre.
The cost of an annual resident’s parking permit was set at €30, with a second residents permit costing €60. An annual business parking permit will cost €30 in Kilrush, which is an increase from €10, while a seven-day permit will cost €20 and a three-day permit €10.