Relief in Enfield as train station car park opens

The long-awaited new commuter car park at Enfield Rail Station is now open and has increased parking capacity at station from 20 spaces to 131. There had been an ongoing problem in Enfield where commuters were parking in housing estates beside the train station, and there was also the issue of parking spaces on the street - which were intended for local shop and business customer use - being taken up all day. While bylaws were introduced some time ago which brought in a three-hour parking rule for on-street parking, this was not enforced because of the lack of alternative parking for commuters using trains and buses. It is expected that this rule will now be more vigorously imposed once the alternative parking facilities are in place. The old car park had just 20 spaces but the extended car park, built by Murphy International at a cost of €500,000, can now accommodate 131 cars. There are seven spaces for those with mobility and sensory impairments and there is also an accessible ramp directly from the car park to the platform. The car park is monitored by closed-circuit television (CCTV) and has street lighting. Further landscaping works are currently being completed and the car park will be officially opened later this month. However, while parking was free previously, commuters must now pay a €2 charge per day to park at the station. The weekly charge is €8, or commuters can pay a €30 monthly charge. Local county councillor William Carey has welcomed the opening of the new car park. He said: 'The residents and business people of Enfield welcome it very much. Up to now, all car parking spaces in the street were being blocked up with commuters. There is three-hour parking in Enfield under the traffic management plan, but up to now Gardai were turning blind eye to it because of the lack of an alternative. I expect that now alternative parking is available, Gardai will enforce this three-hour parking,' said Cllr Carey. He said that businesspeople and the residents of the estates close to the Railway Station had been calling for the car park and Cllr Carey is urging the commuters to avail of the new facilities that have been put in place for them. He said the facility is also available to shoppers in Enfield. The Fine Gael councillor said that not all people know about the car park being open. He said residents of the housing estates say their patience is wearing thin, and he is encouraging people to use the new car park which, he said, is convenient for both the train station and the street.