Belfast City Council is exploring the possibility of offering free parking in council-owned car parks on St Patrick’s Day. A committee meeting held this week at City Hall resulted in a decision to consider this proposal, which was put forth by the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP). This discussion comes despite concerns raised by council officials regarding the financial implications of waiving parking fees.
During the meeting, SDLP Councillor Gary McKeown highlighted an issue from last year when 47 individuals received fines for parking in council car parks on St Patrick’s Day. He noted that if those vehicles had been parked just a short distance away, they would not have faced penalties, as the Department for Infrastructure suspended enforcement of non-payment for off-street parking on March 17.
“It is understandable people would have thought it is a non-charging day, and in such respects it was, just not officially or universally,” McKeown stated. He expressed concern that this inconsistency caused confusion and detracted from the enjoyment of that day for many. The councillor also mentioned that he received confirmation from the Infrastructure Minister that there are plans to formally recognize St Patrick’s Day as a non-charging day for off-street parking.
McKeown proposed that the council implement measures to ensure that St Patrick’s Day is recognized as a non-charging day for parking in council car parks by March 17, 2024. He emphasized that this should not be interpreted as an encouragement for people to drive into the city but rather as a means to ensure fairness and consistency for visitors.
He urged the public to consider using public transport to access the city on this day, while also acknowledging the limitations of available services. “Unfortunately, services on that day are cut back, leading to significant queues at bus stops as people await transport into town for the parade and other festivities,” he said.
In addition to the parking proposal, McKeown suggested that the council should formally request Translink to increase the frequency of bus services on key routes in and out of the city on St Patrick’s Day. A council officer at the meeting pointed out that any decision regarding free parking would require identifying funds to cover the anticipated loss of income, which they noted is a matter for the Department, not the council.
“The best the committee can do is agree to a report that will outline where that loss of income would be met within the budget,” the officer explained, emphasizing the importance of adhering to standing orders and good governance practices.
As the council moves forward with this proposal, it remains to be seen how these discussions will unfold and what impact they will have on the celebrations in Belfast on St Patrick’s Day.
