16 January 2017
By Bryan T. Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
On-street Parking in Cork City Centre is currently €2 for 1 hour (CBD) and 2 hours (beyond)
Retail Excellence (a representative organisation for Irish retailers) today said that news some provincial towns and cities local authorities are moving to increase parking charges is short-sighted given the general difficult trading conditions Irish retailers are currently enduring.
Lorraine Higgins Head of Public Affairs and Communications at Retail Excellence today said that “Parking is key to the footfall of every business and by increasing parking charges you are placing an extra cost on the consumer’s transaction”.
“At a time when the whole industry is facing mass uncertainty about the impact of Brexit, sterling valuation, the increase on online sales and a drop in consumer sentiment now is certainty not the time to increase or create new charges. While we appreciate that local authorities have to operate a balanced budget the retail sector is not an ever-flowing tap of revenue whether it is directly through rates, parking charges or by stealth.”
