This article is from page 8 of the 2013-04-09 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 8 JPG
JOBS could be under threat in Lahinch as employers face a marked increase in parking costs in the village, that’s according to locals who may have to pay for parking spaces they currently get for free come January 1st 2014.
A number of local businesses are set to lose access to unlimited car parking spaces at Liscannor Road car park from January of next year following plans to centralise the way parking fines are managed in the county.
Local representatives have accused Clare County Council or of handing out “diktats” to the local business community, by introducing measure that they feel will put employment at risk.
More than 70 free car parking permits have been issued by Clare County Council for the car park in recent years – with some local businesses currently in receipt of as many as seven permits.
The move is being put forward by Clare County Council, who have directed the Ennistymon Area Office to write to every business in Lahinch to inform them of the possible change.
The council is currently streamlining its parking procedure in Ennis, Kilrush and Lahinch in an attempt to save costs by managing all all parking appeals centrally from Ennis.
“The system has worked well up to now and the only reason we are introducing this is to suit other areas. I cannot see that these employers will be able to absorb these extra costs,” said Cll Richard Nagle (FF).
“This is inevitable going to incur increased costs for the people at Lahinch. This never came to us before now, this never came before [a meeting of ] Clare County Council, I feel that this is very heavy handed that is coming to us as a diktat from Ennis.”
At present, local permit holders cannot use car parking facilities at the Lahinch promenade. The proposed change would see local workers forced to use the Miltown Road car park on the southern edge of the town.
“This is a seasonal area, in Ennis the businesses are operating five or six days a week, all year round. The permits should reflect that.
“I take the points of the car park on the Miltown Malbay road, but there will be many days when it’s raining and employees will walk all the way down to work from this car park and the Liscannor Road car park will be totally empty,” said Cllr Joe Arkins (FG).
The proposed change to the parking system in Lahinch will not be brought in until January 1, 2014, at the earliest. Local councillors have asked that their opposition to the change be relayed to the officials at Clare County Council.