The long running issue of parking fines in Newry city centre could fall under the control of the council after 2015 according to the local authority’s chief executive. Thomas McCall was speaking at last Tuesday’s district development meeting after Newry Town councillor Frank Feely (SDLP) said he had spent two hours with businesses in the Canal St/ Sugar Island area discussing issues relating to parking and parking fines in the area. Whilst many councillors stated that they were opposed to the ‘red coats’ presence in the city some of the same councillors later stated they would prefer if the council had control of parking in the city so that revenues could be utilised by the local authority. Quite how these seemingly conflicting aspirations would meet is difficult to say – but according to chief executive Thomas McCall the council may soon have the authority to make such decisions. “Councils could have these powers under RPA,” he told members. RPA or the Review of Public Administration looks set to reduce the number of councils in Northern Ireland from 26 to 11 and would merge Newry and Mourne with Down District. The new council would have greater powers – and among them could be the control of parking. With much work still to do on RPA and with the issue continuing to cause controversy it was suggested by Newry Town councillor Davy Hyland (IND) that a delegation from the district should arrange a meeting with relevant officers who are currently responsible for the matter something Mr McCall said could be arranged. Paid on street parking was introduced in Newry September 1 2008 with the number of wardens on the street increasing thereafter.
Newry Reporter
28th March 2012
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