Consultation opened on proposals for off-street car park strategy

by Gráinne Connolly

Mid Ulster District Council has opened a consultation on a series of proposals contained in a draft off-street car park strategy and action plan. 

The new 10 year plan sets out how the Council aims to provide quality off-street parking provision, which it became responsible for in April 2015. 

As well as that, it explores options for the future operation of the 23 off-street car parks in 8 towns and villages across Mid Ulster. 

In Cookstown, the strategy proposes that both Loy Street and Orritor Street car parks remain free of charge, while both Union Place and Burn Road car parks become chargeable; given their locations are opposite to the main street and the current proportion of all-day parkers. 

Proposals for Magherafelt suggest that King Street car park remains unchanged, while central and Union Road car parks should become fully chargeable given their proximity to the town centre.

Plans also suggest that Rainey Street would benefit from more disabled and parent and child spaces. 

Under the draft strategy, Dungannon town centre would also see changes to its car parking, with free parking at Scotch Street continuing and charged spaces also continuing at Castle Hill and Ann Street East.

Perry Street would become fully chargeable, while the Ann Street West site would be redeveloped and a replacement site provided. 

Elsewhere in Castledawson, Clogher, Coalisland, Fivemiletown and Maghera, analysis of the usage of the car parks has shown that the majority of them operate with ampte spare capacity. 

Proposed public realm schemes for both Maghera and Coalisland will consider car parking provision as part of the works. 

Where changing is proposed, the Council is also suggesting that rather than 'pay and display', the car parks should become 'pay on foot' which reduces the need for enforcement and allows parkers to pay for the time they actually park. 

To view the strategy and respond to the consultation, visit: www.midulstercouncil.org/offstreetconsultation

The consultation opened yesterday (2nd October 2017) and the closing date for responses is Friday 29th December 2017.