Motorists pay more to park in Clonmel than in any other town in Tipperary
The huge difference in car parking charges imposed in Clonmel and Nenagh were highlighted at the annual budget meeting of Tipperary County Council.
The meeting was told that of the projected 2024 €2.8million revenue to be taken in by the authority in parking charges next year, 46% of it would be generated in Clonmel.
One after another, Clonmel elected representatives voiced their concern over the difference in parking charges that exist between the two biggest towns in Tipperary.
DETRIMENTAL
Clonmel councillors expressed the view that car owners were paying too much to park in Clonmel and those charges were having a detrimental effect on business in the town.
Motorists in Clonmel pay €1.20 per hour for both on and off street parking.
Motorists in Nenagh, however, pay just €0.75 for on street car parking and €0.50 for off street car parking.
Figures in the 2024 budget documentation that came before the members on Friday said Clonmel district would raise parking income of €1,318,000 in 2024 while €364,760 would be raised in the Nenagh district.
The parking charges issue was raised by Cllr Michael Murphy. He said the issue of parking charges had to be examined within the county.
He said it would be difficult to explain to motorists why there was such a big difference in parking charges between the two towns.
FAIRER CHARGES
Cllr Murphy said he would like to see some progress made in creating fairer charges for the 2025 budget.
Cllr Murphy said there was a lot of work carried out on harmonisation of services and charges within the county since the amalgamation of south and north Tipperary County Councils.
“We are well into the amalgamation now and parking charges is one area that still has to be looked at,” insisted Cllr Murphy.
Cllr Siobhan Ambrose said the issue of car parking charges can no longer be put on the back burner.
She told the meeting that it was very difficult to understand why there was such a difference in car parking charges across the county.
Cllr Ambrose said there had to be a level playing field for towns in Tipperary when it came to car parking charges.
Why was it, she asked, were motorists expected to pay €1.20 for off street parking in Clonmel and just €0.50 for off street parking in Nenagh.
Cllr Máirín McGrath said the authority was now coming to the end of a second term since amalgamation and it was not good enough that such a difference existed in car parking charges between towns in the county.
“How is it fair, how is it justified,” stated Cllr McGrath referring to the difference in costs between parking in Clonmel and Nenagh.
Cllr McGrath said it was a cause of great frustration that the cost of parking was so much cheaper in towns in the north of the county and it was time there was an equalisation of car parking charges introduced.
Cllr Pat English said car parking charges was probably the last thing to be done in terms of harmonisation measures to be introduced since the amalgamation.
“Nearly half the parking income in the county is coming from Clonmel and business is suffering. People are voting with their feet. They are not going into the town centre, they are going to the satellite shopping centres. The sooner something is done the better,” said Cllr English.
Marcus O’Connor, Director of Services said that parking charges were the last element of charges that had yet to be synchronised since the amalgamation.
He said there was a very strong case for the car parking charges in the towns of the county to be synchronised and that it would be done. Charges he said in some areas like Nenagh were lower while in Cahir there was no charges at all for on street car parking.
Marcus O’Connor, Director of Services said parking charges was a matter for each municipal district and the charges to be set was a reserved function for the councillors elected to the districts.
There is no charge in Cahir for on street parking and a €1.20 charge for off street parking. In Carrick-on-Suir there is a €1 charge for on street parking and a €0.70-€1.00 charge for off street parking.
In Cashel there is a €1 charge for on street parking and a €1.20 charge for off street parking. In Tipperary Town there is a €0.70 charge for on street parking and a €1 charge for off street parking.
In Templemore there is a €0.50 charge for parking. In Thurles there is a €1 charge for on street parking and a €1.20 charge for off street parking.
In Roscrea there is a €0.50 charge for on street parking and €0.60 charge for off street parking.
Following the meeting the Mayor of Clonmel Cllr Richie Molloy said their should be a review of parking charges held.
“These figures show Clonmel is not being treated fairly,” he said.
Cllr Molloy said he would like to see two hour free parking in Clonmel from 9am to facilitate school drops and to encourage people to stay in the town.
In presenting the 2024 budget Joe MacGrath, Chief Executive Officer, said the range and breadth of services provided by the local authority had expanded over the years.
“Tipperary County Council’s remit as a service provider extends beyond the traditional services to include expansive roles in areas such as active travel, supports to refugees and asylum seekers, economic development, job creation and community supports,” he told the elected members.
The multiplicity of services now being provided places greater demands on support services which was reflected in the budgets, said the chief executive officer.
LOCAL PROPERTY TAX
He told the members that the authority had been very successful in securing large allocations for the county. The Local Property Tax (LPT) allocation notified to Tipperary County Council for 2024 was the largest in the country and has been increased by approximately €1.5m on the 2023 allocation.
The council decided in 2022 to increase the LPT by 10% for the financial years of 2023 and 2024.
The draft budget was prepared on the basis that the Annual Rate on Valuation (ARV) for 2024 will remain unchanged at 0.2015, which was one of the lowest in the country.
BUDGET APPROVED
The budget was proposed and seconded and approved by the members.
Cllr Pat English, who had objected to funding allocated for conferences at home and abroad for members earlier in the meeting, said he wanted it recorded that he was opposed to the estimates.
Joe MacGrath, CEO said the budget was passed unanimously but it would be noted that Cllr English made a statement at the end of the meeting.