‘A waste of money’ – No plans to reopen free car park in Navan despite calls for trial period
There are no plans to reopen the Páirc Tailteann car park in Navan, despite a proposal from an Aontú councillor to trial the facility for six months in a bid to ease parking pressures and improve accessibility in the town centre.
Cllr Emer Tóibín said the significant removal of parking spaces from Navan town centre in recent years is “causing considerable upset and inconvenience to many, particularly the elderly and those with mobility challenges.”
“While the car park spaces at the Park & Ride facilities at Garlow Cross and Moathill are very welcome, the reduction of town-centre parking reflects a growing trend that is impacting those who rely most on being able to park nearby,” she said ahead of the October meeting of the Navan Municipal District.
“Accessibility and convenience aren’t luxuries — they’re basic needs, especially for older people and those with limited mobility.”
Cllr Tóibín added that the removal of seven spaces from Church Hill near Staunton’s Pharmacy has made it “more difficult” for residents who depend on easy access to local services.
“These decisions might look small on paper, but they make a big difference to people’s lives,” she said. “When access to town centres becomes more difficult, it has a real knock-on effect on footfall, commercial viability and social activity. Local businesses rely on ease of access for their customers.”
At the meeting, Cllr Tóibín proposed that the car park at Páirc Tailteann be reopened on a six-month trial basis, accompanied by a public information campaign to inform visitors, shoppers, and residents about the additional parking spaces available during the trial period.
“Those who can walk could use Páirc Tailteann, freeing up the vital spaces near shops and services for those who need them most,” she said.
She argued that reopening the facility could help increase parking capacity within the town.
Last year, Meath County Council opened 120 free parking spaces at Pairc Tailteann on the Commons Road while upgrade works at the Fairgreen ruled dozens of spaces out of use.
In the council’s response to Cllr Tóibín’s motion, they said there are currently no plans to reopen Páirc Tailteann.
“Parking facilities were previously provided at Páirc Tailteann, however, there were as few as six cars per day using the facility,” the local authority said in its response.
“A town-wide public information campaign to inform visitors, shoppers, and residents of the availability of additional parking was undertaken, yet usage remained low. It has been observed that multi-storey parking is underutilised, while drivers queue for cheaper spaces to become available on Kennedy Plaza.”
They added: “A rebalancing of public parking costs in line with inflation may go some way towards encouraging people to use all the parking options available in the town. Meath County Council does not propose offering parking facilities at Páirc Tailteann at present.”
When asked if the campaign could be run again for another six months, Mayor of Navan, Cllr Padraig Fitzsimons, said reopening the car park would be “a complete waste of money.”
“I honestly don’t see that as a solution. Theoretically it is a great solution, but it just does not work,” he said.