COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

MOTION NO. 11

MOTION: Councillor E. Coburn

"That this Committee discuss with the aid of a report the management of the Pay & Display system in Rathfarnham Village by APOCA, highlighting the recent concerns raised by the traders of Rathfarnham village."

REPORT:

Information signs which state, bi-lingually, “Drivers, please purchase and display a parking ticket within 10 minutes of arrival.  Failure to display a parking ticket may result in a fine” are in place in Rathfarnham Village. There has never been a ‘free period’ however the 10 minute period is a “grace period” which is applied generally to allow those persons who might arrive at a pay station without the correct or any change to obtain some and pay for their parking.  It is also likely that drivers might avail of this “grace period” to carry out their business but the onus is always on them to ensure that they have paid for their parking and they cannot then complain if they take a chance and avail of this “grace period” only to then overstay the grace period and incur a fine.

Additional information stickers are also in place on all payment machines.  They advise drivers that a period of 10 minutes is given to allow drivers to organise payment.  All wardens allow the 10 minute grace period.   If anyone feels that they have been unfairly treated by the actions of a warden, it is, of course, open to them to bring the facts of the matter directly to the attention of the Parking Unit in the Council.

No operational change is being considered, as the 10 minute period is currently within the protocol for issuing fixed charge notices.

The provision of pay and display parking is a mechanism to regulate the use of parking space to ensure maximum turnover of parking in the village to facilitate the commercial activities of the village and limit the all day parking which would hinder that.  

Not withstanding the above, it is noted that the parking areas in Rathfarnham are consistently well used with an appropriate number of free spaces to give a high level of certainty for parking space availability.  The correct management of parking can only seek to ensure that the maximum use is made of the limited space available for parking. The consequential commercial dividend is beyond the scope of the parking operation.  To ensure the maximum use occurs a tariff is placed on access to critical parking space on Main Street and thereby it is protected from economically low value parking.  The tariff charged also encompasses the administration of the controlled parking operation.  Prior to the introduction of controlled parking when essentially free parking existed extensive pressure existed for reform.

A meeting took place recently with the local traders and APCOA. It was a useful in that the insights it provided for traders on the systems and standards adhered to by APCOA and for APCOA who were informed of the traders frustration and issues that have been experienced on the ground particularly in relation to the way the parking regime has been implemented.. It was agreed that as the Bye Laws were to be reviewed in 2013 consideration would be given to modification to the current regime in the light of experiences  here and accross the County.