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Buncrana parking charges net
€100,000
29.04.08
BUNCRANA'S
controversial parking charges have reaped an
estimated €100,000 for the local authority in the
first five months of operation, it can be revealed.
The take from the parking meters in the seaside town
is between €3,000 and €4,000 on an average week,
sources have indicated.
And around 600 parking fines at €40 each, have been
issued since the scheme was introduced in November -
around 21 weeks ago.
The return at the meters in that time is an
estimated €73,500 - taking the figure at an average
of €3,500 a week.
The return from the fines, meanwhile, would be
around €24,000 but it must be acknowledged that not
all traffic offenders have paid up. |
While their outstanding
fines have increased incrementally as a result, the
Council has not seen a cent from some of the 600
fines issued.
It is also understood that the town has a number of
alleged repeat offenders who continue to flout the
new parking laws.
It's believed that despite being issued with up to
five parking fines, the local authority has so far
not instigated any legal proceedings against a
number of motorists.
InishowenNews.com contacted Buncrana Town Council
asking how much the scheme had earned so far for the
local authority. |
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No figure was
forthcoming but the town manager, Liam Kelly, issued
the following statement:
"The introduction of pay and display in November
2007 has gone very well and revenue from the new
system will be used to fund the acquisition of land
for car parking and to consider how the required
infrastructure will be funded.
"The system is working very well in assisting in the
free flow of traffic on the Main Street. Traffic
management will continue to be a priority in 2008."
Mr. Kelly said a full account of the figures in
respect of income and expenditure for 2008 would be
published in the Buncrana Town Council Budget for
2009.
It must be acknowledged that not all the money
earned so far from the parking meters and fines has
resulted in profit for the Council. In fact, it
would appear the Council is still in the red in
respect of the new traffic management scheme.
Around 30 parking meters costing €4,000 each had to
be installed at a cost of €120,000. This figure does
not include ongoing maintenance and repairs.
Similarly, the Council has to pay the salaries of
two traffic wardens.
The parking charges apply from 9am to 6pm from
Monday to Saturday. Motorists pay 50c per hour with
a maximum stay of two hours on the Main Street and
all other streets. Drivers pay 30c per hour in the
St. Mary's Road and Nailor's Row car parks or €1.20
for the day. Monthly passes cost €20; six monthly,
€100; and €190 yearly, for car parks only. |
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