The Stormont Department for Infrastructure has said it will make off-street parking free in Belfast
Alan Lewis – PhotopressBelfast.co.uk 17/3/2017
Mandatory Credit – Picture by Justin Kernoghan
Thousands enjoying a St Patrick’s Day parade in Belfast city centre today.(Image: )
Belfast City Council is to look at free parking in council owned car parks in the city on St Patrick’s Day.
A committee at City Hall this week agreed to look at the possibility, after a proposal by the SDLP, despite a council officer arguing that the decision could not be made without locating funds that would cover the loss of income. The committee also agreed to press Translink for more bus runs in and out of town on the day.
SDLP Councillor Gary McKeown said at the People and Communities Committee this week: “It emerged last year that 47 people who parked in council car parks on St Patrick’s Day last year were fined for non-payment. Yet if they had parked up the street a few yards away they wouldn’t have been fined, as the Department for Infrastructure has stood down the enforcement of non-payment of off-street parking on March 17 each year.
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“It is understandable people would have thought it is a non-charging day, and in such respects it was, just not officially or universally. This creates confusion, and I am sure for those who were fined it spoiled an otherwise enjoyable day in the city.
“I have been told by the Infrastructure Minister that she plans to formally recognise St Patrick’s Day as a non-charging day for off-street parking, so this disparity is going to continue, unless steps are taken to resolve it.”
He proposed that arrangements were made to make St Patrick’s Day a non-charging day in council car parks, in time for March 17 this year.
He added: “We want to highlight that this should not be seen as a call for people to drive into the city, or to forget about public transport as a key option, as well as making sure there is fairness and consistency and that people have a positive experience on St Patrick’s Day. I would urge visitors to take public transport into the city where possible on March 17.
“But unfortunately this isn’t always possible. The services on that day are cut back, and everyone has seen the massive queues at bus stops as people await transport into town for the parade and other festivities.”
He made a second proposal that the council writes to Translink to increase the frequency of services in and out of the city on St Patrick’s Day on key arterial routes.
A council officer said: “This is a Departmental loss of income, and it is matter for the Department to cover that loss of income within the budget. It is not a matter for the (council) Strategic Policy and Resources Committee to intervene at this stage for a matter which is a Departmental loss of income.
“The best the committee can do is agree a report comes back next month that will outline where that loss of income would be met within the budget. That is in compliance with standing orders and good governance, in that the committee and the members cannot take a decision unless they identify where that money is going to come from to cover that loss of income.”
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