Traders fear changes to Buncrana’s on-street parking
Business owners on the town’s main street say doing away with the half-hour free parking will lead to businesses closing
Traders on Buncrana’s main street have warned that the removal of the town's half-hour free parking will lead to the closure of businesses.
The warning comes amidst a review of the on-street parking in the town which is being carried out by Donegal County Council.
The local authority is holding a consultation drop-in to get feedback from businesses, residents and “other stakeholders” on the operation of on-street parking in Buncrana.
It is understood the council is considering doing away with the free half hour of parking, partly due to an increase in the cost of street cleaning and the fact that on-street parking scheme in the town is running at a loss.
Traders say the free half-hour is crucial to much of their business as it suits customers who only need to make brief stops. Taking it away will reduce trade on the street and the town centre for dozens of businesses, they say.
Paul Brogan, who owns the Food For Thought health food shop, said a petition will be gathered from local businesses which will illustrate the opposition to the proposal.
Around 50 businesses in and around the main street rely on the free parking, he said, adding that the move would impact on all businesses as it would reduce the number of people coming into the town centre.
Mr Brogan said the council should not take away something that businesses need “just because they [the council] need revenue”.
“This could close businesses which means they [the council] would lose rates. If they get away with this - there will be no retail on the main street.”
John O’Donnell, the owner of O’Donnell’s Ice Cream Shop, a family business which opened in the 1950s, said the removal of the free half-hour would “kill off the main street”.
He said “90% - if not all of the businesses” benefit from the free half hour.
“All traders would be opposed to it and their customers would be opposed to it,” he said.
There has to be another way of funding the street cleaning “rather than by trying to close businesses,” he said.
“If you punish the ratepayers and close the businesses - they [the council] don’t get the rates.”
The consultation event will be held in the Inishowen Gateway Hotel on August 23 from 12pm to 5pm.
The town’s three county councillors are divided on what the outcome of the review should be.
Sinn Féin councillor Jack Murray said he believes the council should be able to source the funding for the street cleaning from another avenue.
“I believe the 30 minutes free parking should be kept to support small businesses. If you abolish it people are more likely to go to big supermarkets that will have free parking. I would encourage all small businesses in the town to engage with the process and make their opinion known.”
Local Fianna Fáil councillor Rena Donaghey said it is important that the public’s opinion is sought.
She said the “parking is costing a lot of money” and the council cannot sustain it.
“We have to look at what is the best way to approach it and we have to look at other towns similar to Buncrana and get the people’s input. We have to look at what the public want.”
Independent councillor Nicholas Crossan voted for the introduction of the free half-hour when it was introduced in 2006. He said that was a mistake as the town has lost hundreds of thousands in revenue since and he believes it should be done away with.
The extra revenue would help with the costs in maintaining the town and could even go to running events and festivals. He said the introduction of a VAT charge on car parking means the scheme is running at a loss.
“It is costing the council money, about €13,000 last year,” he said.
“The parking charge is the only charge that stays within the town that raises it. There are lots of things that have to be done and they have to be paid for. I would encourage people to come down [to the consultation] and have their say and listen to pros and cons.”
Donegal County Council was asked to comment.