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It’s being claimed this week that free parking initiative operating in Fermoy’s off street car parks is being hijacked by people working in the town. Photo: 123RF

The free parking initiative operating in Fermoy's off street car parks is being hijacked by people working in the town, town councillor Michael Hanley believes.

He says representations have been made to him by customers who say they are unable to find parking in the car parks as the spaces are being taken up by workers taking advantage of the free parking and using the spaces nearest the main streets.

"We can't have it both ways," he said, pointing out that the initiative was designed to incentivise people to come into town to shop in the midst of a recession and in spite of difficulties with traffic congestion arising from the flood works.

"I'd be keen to see some permanent form of off-street free parking but it can't be done. There would be no point if it's going to be used by people working in the town to the detriment of people wanting to come to town to shop and do business," he said.

He is urging workers to park in the upper levels of the library car par in particular, leaving the front section free for shoppers.

Referring to on-street parking, the former mayor said that with the loss of income from off-street parking, more attention is being paid to parking on the main thoroughfares and while he didn't want to see anybody get a €40 fine, people need to realise that if they are planning to park for any length of time they must buy a ticket.

"It's my understanding that people will be allowed leeway if they are just popping into a shop or business for a few minutes but for anything longer, my advice is, for peace of mind, to buy a ticket or park in the off-street car parks".

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