A proposal to improve pedestrian access in Kilkelly and create a car park has met local opposition but consultation between the council and locals will continue.
The Mayo County Council project, which is part of an overall €7 million investment in the town, has been met with resistance by local businesses who are concerned about the loss of on-street car parking.
The business people have given the council an alternative proposal which the council are now reviewing, a meeting of the Swinford electoral area committee was told on Tuesday.
Paul Benson, senior executive officer for the council, said he couldn’t see how the council and locals could come to an agreement. While he said he expected to have a full report on the project for the committee’s April meeting, he didn’t envisage that the businesses would have a change of mindset before then.
Funding from the council’s social and economic programme has already been sanctioned for the project.
Cllr Eugene Lavin said he hoped the issues could be resolved but admitted it would be difficult to convince people to park in a car park 100 metres up the road when they were used to parking on the street.
The total council investment in Kilkelly includes the development of housing, land acquisition, provision of car parking, a water and sewerage scheme, town enhancement works and the construction of a link road.
Mr Benson said the council may have to proceed with the works in stages and reduce the number of parking spaces gradually. Mr Noel Burke, senior officer, said the whole project could be delivered in two to three years as long as grants stayed at the same level.
