Parking restrictions to be introduced in Castlewellan

Parking restrictions to be introduced in Castlewellan

12 December 2018

ON-STREET car parking restrictions are to be introduced in Castlewellan town centre for the first time.

The move was agreed by local politicians during a meeting on Monday night, with the move a direct response to growing concern about a lack of parking spaces which the business community fears will drive shoppers out of the town.

Senior Newry, Mourne and Down Council officials have met with Department for Infrastructure representatives to discuss the issue and legislation paving the way for parking restrictions to be introduced could be in place in the New Year.

The parking issue was discussed at Monday’s meeting of the local authority’s Enterprise, Regeneration and Tourism Committee with councillors agreeing to bring forward parking restrictions.

However, they have made it clear that the move will only happen if measures are put in place to ensure residents who live in the town centre can continue to park outside their homes.

Another issue to be explored moving forward is making land at the Bann Road playing fields available for staff who work in the town centre to park their cars.

In addition to on-street parking restrictions, council officials have suggested a restriction will also be imposed on how long people can leave their vehicles in the Upper Square area in a bid to deter all-day parkers.

While it is free to park in Castlewellan and there are currently no time restrictions on where people can leave their vehicles, traders are becoming increasingly concerned about the lack of parking spaces.

They fear the congestion will force people to shop elsewhere which will be bad news for the town and local economy.

The local authority’s decision to bring forward legislation to curb all-day parking comes just a matter of weeks after consultants overseeing a series of roadshows to provide ratepayers with an opportunity to have their say on a hike in car parking charges and general parking issues across the district revealed that it could be up to three years before the Castlewellan problem could be addressed.

Slieve Croob councillor Roísín Howell believes the available land at the Bann Road could be utilised to provide more parking spaces and help ease town centre congestion.

She described suggestions that it could take up to three years before a solution could be found to Castlewellan’s current parking problems as “nonsense”.

Cllr Howell added: “It is clear that many traders in Castlewellan are extremely concerned that if there is no urgent action to identify additional parking spaces, customers will go elsewhere.

“It is important the local council explores all possible options, including utilising the Bann Road site.”