Free parking in Dublin's 'retail core'

TIM O'BRIEN

FREE PARKING in Dublin City Centre’s “retail core” is being offered to motorists as part of attempts to stimulate Christmas shopping in the city.

The move, which involves the suspension of “pay and display” parking, applies in designated streets after 2pm each Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday until Sunday, December 27th.

About 1,380 spaces will be made available during the period to park at no charge. However, motorists have been warned that parking in streets outside those in the designated area will attract parking charges as normal, and those who fail to pay face clamping. Information on which streets are eligible for free parking will be provided on parking machines.

The incentive was agreed between city businesses and the council in tandem with the temporary suspension of evening “bus corridors” at College Green. Under this plan the corridor will not operate in the evening rush from 4pm to 7pm, when the route will be available to private cars.

Councillors at the November meeting voted 35 to 11 in favour of introducing free parking for shoppers after strong representations from traders in the city centre.

The council released maps of what it calls the “retail core”. North of the river this is bounded by Amiens Street, Dorset Street and Capel Street, while south of the river the parking area is bounded by Aungier Street to the west, St Stephen’s Green to the south and Nassau/Kildare streets to the east.

The move was welcomed by Dublin City Business Association spokesman Tom Coffee, who said business had started to pick up very marginally in the city centre in recent days. While it was “very early days”, he said a clearer picture would emerge in coming weeks.

Fine Gael leader on Dublin City Council Gerry Breen said no one was blaming the downturn in trade wholly on parking or the new bus corridor. “When the evening bus gate resumes, the Macken Street Bridge will be open and the Luas extension to Docklands will be operational,” he said.