Businesses owners and employees working in Moate could soon be able to apply for a parking permit.
Councillors passed a motion at last Tuesday’s (May 8 ) meeting of the Athlone Municipal District requesting a change to by-laws allowing business owners and their employees in Moate to apply for a parking permit.
The motion was originally raised a number of months ago by local Independent councillor, Michael O’Brien, who said some people working in Moate have been issued with fines for leaving their vehicles parked beyond the three hour window allowed.
An initiative introduced in Moate last year introduced three hour unrestricted parking in the town’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.
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 motion, Cllr Dolan said that overall the parking initiative in Moate has 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.
The proposal for the parking permits will now go to public consultation, whereby people will have a month to make submissions on it, before it comes back before a meeting of the Municipal District in July for councillors' final approval.
