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Regarding the financial effects around the implementation of free parking, Ms Moriarty stated that on-street charges would ‘effectively be wiped out’. Photo: Eoin Scanlon

Any amendments to the pay parking bye-laws in Fermoy should not include the introduction of two hours free on-street parking in the town, a report from Fermoy Municipal Authority has revealed.

The report was distributed to local councillors this week by Municipal District Officer, Pauline Moriarty, following a deputation from Fermoy Business Action Group last January, who called for the two hours free parking to be introduced.

Regarding the financial effects around the implementation of free parking, Ms Moriarty stated that on-street charges would ‘effectively be wiped out’.

“The costs involved in the management of pay parking will not be materially affected by the proposed amendments. The major impact will be on income from purchases of two hours duration or less.

“Having reviewed the breakdown of purchases, there are no on-street transactions for more than €2. As a result the income generated from on-street parking charges would effectively be wiped out,” she said.

It is apparent, Ms Moriarty added, that the financial implication of the proposed amendment would lead to a situation whereby the overall income received will be less than the cost of implementing the parking control.

Included in the report was a breakdown of income versus expenditure for 2013, 2014 and the first four months of 2015. Current estimations for 2015 show that a surplus of €82,138 is expected, with €106,000 made from off-street parking and €121,000 from on-street parking. Parking fines are expected to bring in €19,000 in 2015.

In terms of expenditure, over €42,000 is expected to be spent on improving traffic management facilities, over €46,000 on loan charges and €74,910 on operation of traffic. Currently there are approximately 1,069 parking spaces in Fermoy; 529 on-street and 540 off-street.

Ms Moriarty said that the current surplus generated through pay parking is used to fund services in the Fermoy area and any reduction will affect the General Municipal Allocation, the Town Development Fund as well as the proposed pay parking dividend.

“This will negatively affect the town of Fermoy as the Town Development Fund and the pay parking dividend could be earmarked for infrastructural and enhancement works in the town which would benefit all sectors in the community.”

She also outlined a number of other implications to be considered regarding the proposed amendment of free parking. These include questions over the means by which the two hours would be monitored.

“Without a ticket there is no practical way of knowing when a vehicle parked other than by observation by the warden. The enforcement system records the time a vehicle is observed on a street, but not the time it parks or the time it moves off the street or moves a space. This will lead to inefficient implementation of parking control.”

Other issues include the possible increase in fines due to non-compliance which ‘would lead to increasing customer dissatisfaction’, and abuse of the system leading to ‘a further loss of income’.

Fewer turnover of spaces on the main streets would also occur, Ms Moriarty stated. “The ability to leave a car in the area for two hours would appear to be counter-productive for turnover and therefore for traders on the main streets and for availability of parking for customers.”

That no parking charges apply between the hours of 9am to 10am each morning and from 5pm to 6pm each evening on-street. These changes could be made on the ground without delay.

Furthermore, she proposed a minor extension to the length of time to 30 minutes to purchase a ticket before a parking fine is issued and to monitor the implications, both operational and financial. Elected councillors will debate this report on Monday, June 15.

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