More parking for Leitrim town to attract 'an employer that might bring 60 to 80 jobs in'

Leitrim councillor Gary Prior said that more parking on High Street, Balinamore is essential in order to attract potential employers. Currently in the town, a large building (Smyth's) with ample office space, is up for lease. 

He stated: "We have to be realistic; we're trying to get jobs into our towns and most people are going to drive in; 20 jobs into this town will make a massive difference. There is a fine premises on the High Street that is for rent and there are houses coming on the Line Road in the new year so we need to provide the services too like electric car charging etc."

He had put forward a motion about a lack of car parking spaces in Ballinamore asking Leitrim County Council to assess and identify the potential for additional car parking spaces along High Street, to ensure adequate parking capacity in support of potential new job opportunities.

The response said that following assessment of the public area around High Street, "we note that any further public car park development will require additional land. There is currently a carpark adjacent the new Hub Building, and the car park at the rear of the Courthouse is being reviewed by the capital office for improvement works. It is hoped that easier access to this carpark will encourage more people to use it. The Line also offers additional car parking space, however this road is not under Leitrim County Council charge."

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Cllr Prior said that the carpark at the Hub is "full up from 8am" and that the car park at the back of the court house wasn't suitable, in his view. 

He stressed that "to attract an employer that might bring 60 to 80 jobs in; where are they going to park?"

Cllr Enda McGloin added that it was "difficult to get funding nationally for a car park through any rural development schemes" and said that an application was turned down because "part of the application included €10,000 to purchase equipment for a car park". 

Cllr Paddy O'Rourke supported the motion saying that the property for lease has "enormous potential" and that any individual who is interested in leasing the building is "going to ask about the support services and parking; it's something we have to get serious about."

Cllr McGloin agreed saying that car parking is "an essential in smaller towns" and "it should be part of the policy that the department have to facilitate local government applications."

Cllr Brendan Barry said that there are many towns and villages where businesses are closing, "especially where big shops open on the fringes where there is parking available". 

He said: "On High Street above the church, there is a large roadway and line marking could be done for cars parking at an angle to the footpath and that would also narrow the road and reduce traffic speeds and allow a lot more cars to be parked in the main street using ground that's there already."

David Minton, director of services, said that Ballinamore "needs a parking solution" and said  that as part of the courthouse redevelopment and that whole submission, I suggest we integrate it into an Rural Regeneration and Development Fund application."