'Huge concern' over proposed loss of free parking in this town in Tipperary
'These people are the lifeblood of any town and some of them have been in business for 50 years'
Tom Hennessy, Independent candidate in the Cahir area in next month's Local Elections, has called for "the huge concern about the proposed changes to parking restrictions in Cahir to be addressed".
He says that many local businesses and residents of Cahir town have contacted him about the issue.
“I was contacted by four different business owners after I announced I was running in the Local Elections, and sat down with a group of them.
"All I can say is the dismissive way their concerns have been treated shows the complete lack of respect the current local council has for their opinions.
"These people are the lifeblood of any town and some of them have been in business for 50 years. They have paid huge rates and massive amounts in employee PRSI and other charges that all business owners know too well.
"I know that figures of up to €2 euro per hour for parking have been quoted by sources. This is not acceptable.
"You only have to look at Clonmel and Thurles to see the absolute disaster that parking charges have been.
"My own business is on the main street in Clonmel and my patients can’t even park for five minutes to drop in a broken denture to be repaired. It is not good enough and on my election I will be fighting for at least one hour free parking in Cahir”.