Councillors make a case for 'park and ride' service in Kilkenny City

Local councillors are calling on Kilkenny County Council to offer a parking solution or transport alternative for people working in Kilkenny City, as increases in parking charges continue to hit the pockets of local people hard.

At February's meeting of the Kilkenny City Municipal District, Cllr Andrew McGuinness along with party colleague Cllr John Coonan raised the matter again, having previously raised it initially at January's plenary meeting.

Both councillors believe a cheap or free alternative for workers commuting into the city should be considered as soon as possible.

Cllr McGuinness claimed the current city parking measures are 'not fair' and should be altered as a 'matter of urgency'.

Cllr John Coonan touted the idea of a park and ride service as a solution to the parking costs, saying, 'it would be widely used' and it could offer a suitable extension to the KK1 and KK2 bus routes which have proved very popular in recent times. In 2023, over 300,000 people availed of the Kilkenny Bus Service.

Cllr McGuinness shared the positive sentiments surrounding the local bus service, stating it 'skyrocketed' in popularity following the pandemic. He said it was time to offer further routes to extend the service to even more people in the community and the environs, with such a move easing the parking headache impacting many people involved in local business as well as shoppers and other visitors coming to the city.

The parking measures have caused much debate and frustration since they were introduced in January, with the cost of parking in many car parks and on-street parking rising as part of Kilkenny County Council's move to 'manage car parking more effectively,' 'deter illegal parking' and 'promote greater use of sustainable transport.'

Some of the price changes introduced saw one hour of parking at Market Yard car park increase from €1.30 to €2 an hour. All-day parking at the Fair Green, Dean Street and Wolfe Tone Street car parks increase from €2 a day to €5 a day and short term parking in areas including John Street, Bateman Quay and Patrick Street Lower went from €1.50 an hour to €2 an hour.

Fine Gael councillor David Fitzgerald voiced his concerns over the new measures and the fines being issued for short-term parking, highlighting the damage it causes to local business and trade.

Cllr Fitzgerald also expressed concern over the increases on all-day parking, stating they're punishing the 'lower-income' and 'retail workers' most substantially.

The Fine Gael councillor along with Cllr Eugene McGuinness shared the view of their fellow councillors that a park and ride is needed locally.

Cllr Eugene McGuinness said it was 'absolutely essential' and that 'can not be emphasised enough'.