Ulster Unionists Welcome Car Parking Discount Scheme

Ulster Unionist Party candidates for Larne in the upcoming Mid and East Antrim Council election, Maureen Morrow, Mark McKinty and Andy Wilson have welcomed the announcement of a six month trial period for lower off street parking in Larne Town.

In a joint statement the Ulster Unionist team said:

“Our town centre needs all the help it can get in these difficult times for traders.  Therefore the decision of Regional Development Minister Danny Kennedy MLA to repeat the Christmas scheme for a 6 week trial is a timely boost for retaliers in Larne town centre. The 5 hours parking for a £1 offer starting on 12^th April 2014 applies to Agnew Street, Fairhill, Narrow Gauge Road."

"With the responsibility for off street car parking due to be handed down from DRD Roads service to local Councils, it will be interesting to see what effect this trial has on footfall in our local shops.  It is certainly the sort of initiative we would like to promote and see continuing in the new Council set up.” 

 

The scheme for Agnew Street, Fairhill and Narrow Gauge Road applies to tariffs of 30p or more per hour.  Drivers will still be able pay for normal tariffs under £1 in each car park and normal tariffs over 5 hours still apply.  This is just the latest initiative from Danny Kennedy that is designed to both save the public money and attract more people into town centres, like the freeze on car parking charges and a zero increase on Translink fairs for 2014.

Transport Minister, Danny Kennedy said: "Local retailers across Northern Ireland have told me that they are continuing to operate in a challenging environment.  That was one of the main reasons why I introduced a five hours parking for one pound over the Christmas and New Year period.

“The scheme was welcomed by traders and this extensive pilot project will inform my Departments future policy. The five hours parking for £1 pilot tariff will support both the local economy and retailers in their efforts to encourage more shoppers back into towns and cities across Northern Ireland.”

 

Notes to editors:

1. This Pilot Project applies to 93 Roads Services car parks in 25 towns which have a tariff of 30p or more per hour.

2. Pictured are L/R Roy Beggs Jnr MLA, Cllr Mark McKinty, DRD Minister Danny Kennedy MLA, the Mayor Cllr Maureen Morrow, Jim Nicholson MEP, Andy Wilson, Ald Roy Begg.

3. Candidates are Maureen Morrow (Larne Coast Road), and Mark McKinty & Andy Wilson (both Larne Lough).