Call to review Navan parking fee structure is criticised

A proposal to allow shoppers in Navan a second hour's free parking if they pay for the first hour was met with strong opposition at a meeting of Navan Town Council last week. Cllr Francis Deane had proposed that the council fully review the parking structure in Navan. "Given the economic downturn, it is essential to restructure car parking to suit the needs of all, including shoppers, employees and businesspeople alike. This is to respond, in conjunction with the other stakeholders of the town, to the shopping options provided elsewhere," he said. Cllr Deane, himself a retailer on Navan's Trimgate Street, said that business was down 30 to 40 per cent and, in a bid to try and kickstart the economy and bring people into the town to shop, he suggesteed that people could pay for one hour and get one hour free. Cllr Anton McCabe said something needed to be done to secure the future of local retailers and their employees. Cllr Padraig Fitzsimons said that everyone wanted to see more business in the town, but they still needed to run the town and paying for one hour and getting a second hour free would halve the council's income from parking charges."We struggled to keep it at a euro last year," he said. Cllr Fitzsimons pointed out that there was a fantastic long-term car park at Pairc Tailteann at Brews Hill but people weren't using it. Cllr Shane Cassells accused Cllr Deane of trying to get cheap headlines. "This motion is worthless, unless we can pay for it. This is crap coming in here and saying 'let's have a discussion'. Things like this have to be paid for. I could come in here and make suggestions like free burgers or hot dogs but they would have to be paid for. We spend hours every year working out a budget. If we were to do this and cut our income, what house repairs would we not carry out, what other cuts would we have to make?" he asked. "You are just looking for newspaper headlines, and cheap ones at that," said Cllr Cassells.