The consensus among shop and business owners at the AGM of Fermoy Business Action Group on Monday night is that the free parking initiative in the town’s car parks is working well in terms of attracting people into the town.

The meeting heard that the initiative, which is for a three-month period and is due to expire at the end of October, is costing the OPW €10,000. They’re paying the money to Fermoy Town Council to make up for lost revenue as a result of the move. It’s a goodwill gesture by the Department as a means of offsetting the effects of the flood relief works on traffic and incentivising people to visit the town to shop and do business.

Outgoing chairman Noel McCarthy, thanked Cllr Michael Hanley, chairman of the traffic management sub-committee of the town council, for his work on the initiative.

One woman in attendance warned that the free parking initiative should be used wisely. She said it was imperative that all business owners ask their staff to refrain from parking in the free car parks, leaving them for their customers.