NEWRY, Mourne and Down Council is to be asked to overturn its controversial decision to hike car parking charges across the district.
At the start of the year, local politicians agreed to treble parking charges in Downpatrick and Ballynahinch, despite the fact it is free to park in Newcastle, Castlewellan and Saintfield.
The decision to increase parking charges was agreed at a special meeting of the local authority held in January, but the Recorder can reveal that just 16 of the council’s 41 elected representatives councillors were in the debating chamber at the time.
Twenty three councillors tabled apologies and were absent while two others did not lodge an apology for missing the meeting.
Rowallane councillor Billy Walker, who backed the increase in parking charges, has admitted he was wrong to do so and intends to raise the issue at next month’s meeting of the local authority’s Regulatory and Technical Services Committee, which will make a recommendation to the full council in June.
Cllr Walker said he fully understands the backlash from the business community in Downpatrick and Ballynahinch in the wake of the price hike which he admits was wrong. He said no decision should have been taken until traders and members of the public were fully consulted.
Council officials insist the increase in parking charges was widely reported in the local press following the decision, confirming the increase affects six car parks in Newry, three in Downpatrick and two in Ballynahinch.
They say the decision to increase tariffs was to align parking charges throughout the district and to use the revenue generated to maintain the 80 car parks within the council’s ownership.
Business owners have warned the parking charges are having a negative impact on trade, with Cllr Walker revealing staff at a hairdressing salon in Ballynahinch now face a weekly parking charge of £18 which equates to £72 per month.
A new tariff of 40 pence per hour has been introduced at the Lisburn Street and Windmill Street car parks in Ballynahinch and the Irish Street, Church Street and Scotch Street car parks in Downpatrick.
“While I hold my hands up and admit I voted for the price hike, I was wrong to do so,” Cllr Walker continued.
“The increase is impacting on shoppers and staff and we need to revisit this issue. Many in the business community are pretty irate right now and I fully understand why. Staff who work in local shops should not face such an exorbitant price hike.
“Car parks that were once full to the brim are now virtually empty which is undoubtedly hitting town centre trade. People are now parking in residential areas which is really not on, but they will argue they have been forced to do so as they can’t afford to shell out over £70 a month to park. This is Down District we are talking about, not a major city centre.”
Cllr Walker said it was agreed at the council meeting in January that the car parking increase would be reviewed in six months’ time. However, given the community backlash, he insists the decision must now be overturned.
“We need another debate on this issue. I do not believe those who took the decision to hike prices perhaps realised the impact the decision would have. They now do, that is why as responsible elected representatives we need to act.
“With hindsight, I was wrong to support the price hike and am fully prepared to publicly admit that. Councillors need to revisit this issue, it was not a good idea and businesses are suffering as a result.”