Downpatrick Irish Street Car Park Rates Up

th October the increases will take place in ‘kiosk’ and ‘pay on foot’ car parks.xa0Similarly to the pay and display car parks, the increases will generally raise the tariffs by 10p per hour.xa0Irish Streetxa0car park in Downpatrick will be affected with the rate going up to 50p/hr. “The car park tariff increases will encourage turnover of car parking spaces which will help to improve traffic management and promote the commercial and tourist vitality of our towns.xa0Legislation for this increase was approved by the Assembly in March 2011 and this has been advertised in the local press. [caption id="attachment_30757" align="alignleft" width="400" caption="Car parking rates in Irish Street could have a knock on effect to shoppers in the centre of the town."][/caption] “This set of tariff rises is the first in a number of years, some have not increased in 12 years, and the increases will bring charges closer to private sector car parking prices. This will contribute towards the cost of parking operations. “Roads Service currently manages 132 charged car parks across Northern Ireland; 123 of these car parks are affected by the tariffs increase, six are staying the same, and three will have reduced tariffs. “Roads Service has therefore used a number of key factors to assist in determining if either a car park should either become charged, or have its existing tariff altered. “In line with DRD Roads Service policies, parking tariffs are structured so that the more expensive tariffs are nearer the centre of our towns and cities.xa0 This encourages all-day parkers to use the free or less expensive car parks on the periphery, thereby keeping available the most convenient spaces for shoppers or other visitors. “In the case of Downpatrick, as with similar sized towns throughout the province, Irish Street, beingxa0axa0popular,xa0centrally located Car Park will therefore see the tariff increase from 40p per hour to 50p”.]]>