PARKING CHARGES IN newbridge

[NB1]

I overheard a convesation on the train this morning and the jist was that Iris Rail are planning to introduce pay parking in Newbridge within the nxt 4-6 weeks ! Does anybody know if this could be true or not ??

[Mark Gleeson]

Old news been known since February that IE want to introduce a charge

Now the story goes (since proven to be a quite dishonest presentation of the facts) that IE under the direction of its board can only provide new car parking if a charge is levied.

Obviously we can provide a list of locations where this is not the case where significant car park work has occurred in the last 6 months or will be completed in the next 6. Those locations are fairly low demand rural stations.

The charge is nothing more than a money making exercise and is selectively applied where it will extract cash

It is understood that if the new car park in Newbridge is built (planning permission is stalled) that it will be a pay and display and the existing car park will then also become a pay and display

[NB1]

Have IR given any idea of the daily cost involved ! this on top of an already very expensive annual ticket would hardly encourage anybody to leave their car at home every day !

[Mark Gleeson]

€2 day / €5 week

Needless to say this is being opposed.

IE state that they can't build unless a charge is applied however it is clear that there is a huge amount of unspent cash in the DoT for Park and Ride and its of the order of €15 million more than enough to build a new car park at every station on the Port Laois line with considerable change

And no there won't be a physical security presence on site

[2Funki4Wheelz]

I assume paid parking still means 'vehicle left at owners risk'?
Is there any upgrade in security in the new paid car parks?

[Mark Gleeson]

Beyond the CCTV which no will monitor nothing.

If there was a 24-7 presence the charge might be justifiable but as it stands its a money making exercise