Businesses owners and employees working in Moate will now be able to apply for a parking permit.
Councillors passed a motion at Tuesday’s meeting of the Athlone Municipal District that will allow business owners and their employees to apply for a parking permit.
The motion was originally raised by local Independent councillor, Michael O’Brien, who said some people working in Moate have been issued with parking fines for leaving their vehicles parked beyond the three hour window allowed.
An initiative introduced in Moate last year allowed for three hour unrestricted parking in the village’s commercial centre. The idea was to allow free parking while at the same time preventing people from leaving their vehicles parked all day, damaging the commercial potential of Moate.
Welcoming the news of the new permits, Cllr O’Brien thanked his colleagues for their support for his motion.
He said some businesses do not enjoy access to alternative parking, and that it is unfair that people should be fined while at work. He added that residential permits have been available since last year.
Cllr O’Brien was supported by Fine Gael councillor, John Dolan. While welcoming the permits, Cllr Dolan said that overall the parking initiative had worked, and that those who had received fines are in the minority.
Cllr Dolan added that the important message to go out to the public is that there is three hours of free parking available in Moate. He added that plans for the new car park in the village are progressing. Any plan will be advertised in the local media for four weeks, after which a two week public consultation period will commence, when the public can have their say before anything is finalised.
