Six days of free parking in run-up to Christmas

Shoppers will be able to park for free in council car parks for six days in December. In addition, councillors have opted to reserve two further free parking days for use in 2022.

The days when free parking is to apply are December 11, 17, 18, 22, 23 and 24.

Council official Pat Keating told members of the Mullingar Kinnegad Municipal District at their November meeting that the Chamber of Commerce was in favour of reserving two days. “Last year that proposal was put to the members but it was not accepted and the members wanted to run with tradition,” he said, stating that the executive and the chamber felt the two extra days could be used to give a boost to business during the quieter time of next spring.

For December, the executive was suggesting free parking on December 18, and on December 22, 23 and 24.

Cllr Emily Wallace proposed that the portion of the Blackhall car park restricted to two-hour parking should be excluded from the free parking arrangement, to avoid enticing people to park there for the full length of the day.

She welcomed the suggestion of having two free parking days in the spring, but said it was “crazy” to be making a decision on Christmas parking in November. “We should have had this discussed in September,” she said.

Cllr Ken Glynn argued that December 24 should not be counted as one of the free parking days and contended that it would be of greater benefit to have December 11 on the list. Other councillors agreed with Cllr Wallace, saying it should be “a given” that parking was free on Christmas Eve.

He added that as someone who works in retail, he believed strongly that any help possible should be given to help businesses in the build-up to Christmas.

“It’s tough out there. It’s tough for retail. It’s tough for businesses. People wanted to see footfall in their shops – I just don’t feel the dates proposed here are sufficient.”

Cllr Bill Collentine said he would not favour anything that would prevent the implementation of two free days in the new year, a view Cllr Frank McDermott said he shared, as did Cllr Denis Leonard.

Councillors agreed to a compromise and added December 11 to the list and December 17.