Independent Cllr Blaise Hannigan has made it clear that he fundamentally disagrees with Waterford City residents paying for residential parking permits, even if the charge is relatively small.
Speaking at the Waterford Metropolitan District meeting for February, Cllr. Hannigan said, “This is something I have always opposed, as far as I’m concerned there should be no charge for anyone that parks a car outside their property”.
“So I’m asking all councillors from the metropolitan area to oppose this.”
In response, Senior Engineer for Waterford Council, Paul Johnston, was keen to emphasise that the Council was not profiting from the parking permit charge, which is due to go up in price.
“We had proposed that it [parking permit charges] be raised from €15 to €30 [per year]. Albeit it was a 100% increase. I believe that proposal went to the SPC and I believe there is a more modest increase proposed of €5 to bring it to €20,” Mr. Johnston said.
“I take the point, Cllr. Hannigan, that you are trying to encourage City Centre living, but at the same time that was an administration charge to cover the administration work involved in issuing those permits. That’s all it was. That has been reviewed through the Transport SPC,” he added.
AARON KENT
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
