By Julie Waters
A FESTIVE parking scheme that gives shoppers an hour’s grace period in Lisburn and Newry should be rolled out across Ards and North Down borough – and not just for Christmas, according to a local business leader.
The call has come from Newtownards Chamber of Commerce president Derek Wright following the announcement by Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins that the seasonal street parking change would run in the two cities until January 10.
Drivers who have paid stay in the on-street parking in the Controlled Parking Zones (CPZ) will be given an extra 60 minutes after their ticket expires, without fear of receiving a parking ticket.
The aim of the Department for Infrastructure scheme is to encourage local people and visitors to stay longer in cafes and shops during the Christmas trading period.
The call for an all year round parking scheme made by Mr Wright comes after parking was the number issue at a recent meeting between representatives of the borough’s five chambers of commerce and Mayor Gillian McCollum.
The chambers shared with the borough’s first citizen the issues which are causing the greatest challenges facing the local high streets with parking the ‘top of the list’ in all the areas.
Welcoming the Newry and Lisburn car parking scheme, Mr Wright called on the Infrastructure Minister to implement a similar scheme across the borough.
“This is something that all five chambers have been calling for to make our towns more accessible and customer friendly,” he said.
“We have been calling for two hours free car parking in both off street parking and all the council car parks, so we can be on a par with out of town shopping malls and retail parks. We welcome what the Minister is proposing in Newry and Lisburn but hopefully this rolls out much further.”
Mr Wright stressed that implementing an all year round parking scheme would bring the greatest benefit to local businesses.
“Retail is not just for Christmas,” he said. “We trade 12 months of the year, and although Christmas is one of the busiest times we need this 12 months of the year.”
Mr Wright welcomed the fact that Stormont ministers were now ‘listening’ to local retail and hospitality businesses saying: “We welcome what the Infrastructure Minister is doing. Is this a Stormont minister now listening to what hospitality and retail have been saying for some time.
“I hear that Finance Minister John O’Dowd now thinks there needs to be a VAT cut for hospitality. Maybe Ministers are now starting to listen and maybe this is Stormont starting to be effective.”
