Writes Leo McMahon
‘The most effective way to ensure turnover of car spaces to support business and tourism is the introduction of paid parking like the majority of other Municipal Districts (MDs) in the county,’ said Senior Executive Officer (SEO) Maurice Murphy at the monthly meeting of Carrigaline MD in response to a motion from Cllr Jack White (FG) urging the need for extra free car parking space to be provided by the county council in the fast expanding seaside village.
Cllr White’s motion stated: ‘that this MD acknowledges the severe lack of car parking in Crosshaven village centre and the associated negative effects on business, tourism and quality of life for residents. In acknowledging this, the MD requests the council to urgently engage with private landowners to identify suitable site options for extra parking.’
Crosshaven in recent years, he stated, had been growing in popularity for tourists, walkers, swimmers and people going for a drink or dining out as well as those visiting Camden Fort Meagher. The population had increased exponentially but with no provision or planning put in over the last couple of decades for parking to enable local and visiting customers to be expect to be able to park within a reasonable distance.
‘The need for additional parking in the centre of Crosshaven is huge’, continued Cllr White with the pinch points most notably at weekends and bank holidays. He argued that the council had a responsibility to deliver on this and enable the village to thrive especially for the benefit of residents and businesses.
In his report, the SEO said: ‘Having considered this matter over a prolonged period, the Carrigaline MD office is of the view that parking available in Crosshaven is being used for all day parking by local residents and workers.
‘On multiple occasions, MD staff have noted that most parking spaces available are occupied as early as 8.30am daily. The most effective way to ensure turnover of spaces to support business and tourism is the introduction of paid parking like the majority of other MDs in the county’.
Mr Murphy went on: ‘The introduction of paid parking would also provide the MD with access to funding from paid parking dividends and further develop parking options where required.
Councillors will also note from previous responses that Government funding streams favour active travel measures over the provision of increased parking’.
At the MD meeting, the SEO said that it was council policy that on street parking must pay for itself. The mechanism for doing that was paid parking. By doing so, it would perpetually generate funds for the Carrigaline MD area and he was open to that conversation.
He said he visited Crosshaven a lot and every time he passed through, including at 8am onwards, the car parks were full, not with people doing business there, but with local people going to work there or travelling by bus. Charging was the only effective way to ensure turnover of parking spaces and there was need for reality on this matter.
Cllr White said he didn’t believe paid parking was going to come into Crosshaven. He argued that it was addressing the structural needs of the village that was needed. There had been delivery of lands for housing etc but not for extra free parking over the past 20 years in a place with huge tourism potential.
Cllr Audrey Buckley (FF) said that one of the reasons why she pushed for a bus shelter opposite the Royal Cork Yacht Club was to get people who were parking all day in the village to use the car park and other parking near the club and greenway instead and then get the bus. There had been two reports about infrastructure in Crosshaven in the last three or four years that didn’t address parking but acknowledged that there didn’t appear to be luxury of having a half-acre for this.
The SEO said he was happy to explore all options with members but the council was very restricted when it came to Crosshaven for extra parking space.
MD manager Sharon Corcoran asked if a two hour limit overseen by a traffic warden was considered.
Cllr Buckley said she had succeeded in getting the council to give on-the-spot fine tickets to the Gardai for illegal parking in Myrtleville, Fountainstown and Crosshaven village at the busiest times and there was a dedicated Garda for this which helped but resources were very limited.
To allow this, the SEO pointed out, would require parking by-laws, infrastructure in place that the Gardai could enforce, time limit signage and funding of a traffic warden. He acknowledged it was an option to look at.
Ms Corcoran said that on a temporary basis, a time limit and presence of a traffic warden, especially on busy days, would encourage more rapid turnover of parking and be a half way option.
An cathaoirleach Cllr Ben Dalton-O’Sullivan (Ind) agreed that even signage telling people there was a limit on the time for parking would be a deterrent. Cllr White urged that the subject be kept on the table. His motion was seconded by Cllr Eoghan Fahy (SF).
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