Time-limit parking plan passed for Laytown and Bettystown despite concerns – ‘a short term plaster’
A proposal to pilot weekday time limits on on-street parking in a Meath district has been carried at a recent council meeting.
At the January meeting of the Laytown–Bettystown Municipal District, Fine Gael councillor Sharon Tolan called on Meath County Council’s Transportation SPC to investigate a pilot scheme for the area involving the implementation of “restrictive parking arrangements” on the main streets on weekdays.
“This pilot scheme could be introduced in a similar way to the scheme introduced by other local authorities and restrict on street parking on the main streets to a limit of 2 or 3 hours maximum on weekdays, with business and residential permits allowed,” the motion stated.
“This measure is required to ensure that local rate payers are fully supported to continue to do business in our towns and villages, and customers can access convenient short-term parking."
Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Tolan said the motion was about “sensible targeted parking restrictions” to “protect and support access” to Laytown and Bettystown.
“Anyone who lives or runs a business here knows the reality on the ground, all too often off street parking is taken up the entire day by commuters or long term parkings….it’s not sustainable for our growing coastal community,” she said.
“The growth, sustainability and vibrancy of our town centre depend on short stays and high turnover parking.”
“Local businesses need customers to be able to park, go to a shop, have a coffee, pick up a prescription, get a hair cut or visit the post office.”
“When those spaces are blocked for hours at a time, the town centre suffers, footfall drops, business struggle and the vibrancy of Laytown slowly erodes.”
She said residents “deserve” to be able to park near their own homes.
“People who live here should not be pushed out of their own street by all day parking from outside the area.”
“Sensible measures such as a time limited parking, residents permits, and clearly marked short stay bays would ensure that parking is used as it was always intended for - to support local life and local commerce.”
Cllr Tolan added that the proposal was not about “blanket restrictions or penalising visitors.” — “It’s about balance and fairness.”
She also called on Irish Rail to provide more commuter parking, saying Laytown was “the only train station” on the Northern line that has not had an extension, listing Drogheda, Balbriggan, Gormanstown, Skerries, Rush and Lusk and Malahide as having had expansions.
“You can design a system that welcomes visitors while protecting the people who actually live and work here. Many towns across Ireland have already done this successfully. There's no reason why Laytown should fall behind. Doing nothing is not an option.”
“By introducing well planned parking restrictions, we can keep our streets moving, our shops trading and our communities functioning.
“Some people are choosing not to park in the commuter car parks that we've provided, and yet to park right outside the town. Others are hopping on the 10 bus, to go to the airport on holidays and leave the car for two weeks. I don't think that's fair”, Cllr Tolan said.
Fianna Fáil councillor Stephen McKee described it as an “interesting proposal” and supported it “strictly on the basis it would be a limited trial and that there’d be a review.”
Cllr Paddy Meade (FG) described the proposal as “a short term plaster” but said it was worth “looking at these ideas, seeing how they work and examining them”.
He added that more parking has to be bought near the train station to “ease up” Laytown.
On Bettystown, he said changes to beach parking had altered behaviour, telling the meeting some people now go to Termonfeckin or Port beaches instead because they “can’t get parking near the beach”, which he said has had some economic impact.
Cllr Carol Lennon (Ind) said she had raised the issue “on numerous occasions” and argued the proposal would not be effective “and the reason is that there is no enforcement.”
Meanwhile, Cllr Maria White (SF) said she understood the intention but was “disappointed” it had support.
“For me, this is way too vague, it is a plaster. It’s a short term measure to an ongoing issue,” she said.
She added that the issue should not be referred to the Transportation SPC and should be dealt with at a local level.
“We should not advocate our responsibility and our duty to the transport SPC. The decision made in this local area should not be made at our full council meeting.”
“There are three of us [councillors] living in this community, we can sit down over a cup of tea, come up with more solutions…one brain at a time.”
The motion ultimately went to a vote, with three councillors in favour and three against. The Cathaoirleach used the casting vote to carry her own motion.