Passage West Need More Parking Spaces

Writes Leo McMahon

Passage West is in dire need of a town centre car park, said Cllr Eoghan Fahy (SF) at the recent meeting of the county council’s Carrigaline Municipal District (MD).

At his first meeting since being elected, he had a motion requesting a survey be carried out in the town to identify suitable sites when funding was available.

The main thoroughfare said Cllr Fahy was narrow with an operating dockyard and when a bus encountered an oncoming large vehicle there was gridlock. Businesses, some of these new, were struggling and there was also problem of dereliction but he felt there were areas in the town centre where off-street parking could be provided when these became available.

New Cllr Eoghan Fahy (SF), pictured in Tom Fahy Park, says there are sites in Passage West which could be used for much needed off-street car parking - photo Leo McMahon

In support, Cllr Una McCarthy (FG) said there was a similar motion previously from former Cllr Marcia D’Alton (Ind). There was an obvious need resulting in some people avoiding the town and using the Aldi car park instead, thereby affecting small businesses in the main streets.

An cathaoirleach Cllr Seamus McGrath (FF) concurred, saying the issue came up during the election campaign. He too previously raised the matter and there were no easy options but there should be a survey.

In reply, MD officer Denise Kidney said the request would be reviewed and councillors would be updated.  She did point out that obtaining funding for additional parking was more difficult with the emphasis in recent years on active and sustainable travel measures. Cllr Fahy’s motion was adopted.

Ms Kidney said the tender for the Historic Towns Initiative scheme from the Heritage Council worth €50,000 for Passage West was being reviewed and an update would follow.