Council Slams Parking Charge Hike

January 24, 2017

The recent announcement by the Department for Infrastructure, that on street car parking charges are set to rise has been met with shock and anger at Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council, amid calls for the decision to be reversed.

From Monday 20th February on street car parking in Lisburn will rise from 60p to 80p a hour, according to the Department for Infrastructure.

The Council has no responsibility for on-street car parking, this rests with the Department, and was only made aware of this decision last week. 

While the Council does not have responsibility for on street car parking it is responsible for a number of off street car parks and these will not be affected by these charges.

Criticising the price jump, Chairman of the Council’s Development Committee, Councillor Uel Mackin said:

"I am both surprised and dismayed that this increase in on-street parking fee has been announced. Surprised, because such measures have not, to the best of my knowledge, been discussed with any interested stakeholders. Certainly there has been no consultation with Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council.

“This is a totally disgraceful and unacceptable action and  I will be raising the matter at Council Meeting on Tuesday evening. Dismayed because it demonstrates that the Minister and his department appear to have no understanding at all of the commercial pressures on our City Centre traders. He has utterly failed to recognise this difficulty and the efforts being made by Council to give them some degree of support.  In reality the Minister ought to be bringing on-street parking tariffs more into line with those made by Council in off-street car parks.

“When faced with a 33% increase most certainly the Infrastructure Minister, Chris Hazzard’s comments that "on-street parking provides a vital resource for shoppers and visitors and is an important support for the economic and social life of towns and cities" sound very hollow indeed,” said Councillor Mackin.