Rise in Derry Council parking charges by nearly 35%

The fee for drivers using Council parking spaces has gone up by 20p an hour from May 1. 

The significant rise of nearly 35% came into force after an agreement was made during the recent rates discussions.

A spokesperson for Derry City and Strabane District Council confirmed that “car parking prices at all Council owned Pay and Display Car Parks across the Council area increased by 20 pence per hour from May 1, 2023.”

City worker and local resident, Conor Sharkey, said he paid nearly double on Monday May 1 for his parking compared to what he paid on the Friday prior.

Mr Sharkey said: "I used to pay £2.78 to park for the day in the Foyle Road car park. On Monday, I paid £5.08, nearly double the price.

"It is not going to bankrupt me but it's an extra £100 a month that people need to find when everything else already costs so much. You have to factor it into your wages and it is just for parking."

Conor said the rise in fees will lead to people looking for other places to park, such as in residential areas which are already congested.

Conor continued: "People won't want to pay these increased fees and will inevitably look for other places to park which are less convenient for everybody.

"We've had a rate rise over the last five years, it was an 8% rise last year, so I'm of the opinion, 'I'm already paying my rates, why do we have to pay for parking as well?' 

"I use the parking app so if anything else it was the shock of the increase, paying over a fiver a day to go to work. It is a bill that we don't need."

Derry & Strabane District Council runs 11 of the city and district’s most central off-road paid for parking facilities in Derry including car parks in Bishop Street, Foyle Street, William Street, Foyle Road, Queen’s Quay, Spencer Road, Victoria Market, Society Street, Carlisle Road, Strand Road, Foyle Valley Railway.

It also operates paid for car parks in Strabane at Lower and Upper Main Street, Railway Street and Butcher Street.

A spokesperson for the Council said: “This increase was agreed as part of the recent Rates process in February when Elected Members, in response to unprecedented financial challenges and pressures, agreed a series of service cutbacks and income generation measures.

"Signage was erected across Council car parks advising the public of the cost increase and the pay and display machines and App have been updated accordingly.

"The series of savings and income generation measures identified and implemented across a number of Council services, will enable the Council to continue to deliver its critical front line services with a minimum impact on the public.”