Parking enforcement teams ‘will resolve’ pedestrian zone issues in Mid and East Antrim

Motorists are being advised that charges will be reintroduced at public carparks across Northern Ireland from June 29 as Covid restrictions continue to ease.

Drivers who use carparks owned by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, which had a charge prior to lockdown, will be able to avail of a set rate of £1 for five hours.

Normal tariffs of less than £1 are still available for shorter stays and for stays of more than five hours.

Pay stations will be cleaned prior to the resumption of charges while cash collection teams will carry out cleaning on their visits.

Car owners are encouraged to carry hand sanitiser and practise good hand hygiene in line with public health guidelines and to avail of cashless parking at council owned and Department for Infrastructure sites.

The Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, Councillor Peter Johnston, has urged the community to be aware of the charges.

Cllr Johnston said: “We are beginning to see the first signs of recovery to our local towns and villages and now is the time for us to show our support to our retailers who have struggled during the coronavirus crisis.

“If you are planning to visit Mid and East Antrim by car, please remember that parking enforcement by the Department for Infrastructure will come into effect again from Monday June 29.

“This will be an important step in ensuring that our streets are safe for all to use and that everyone parks responsibly to avoid congestion in our borough.”

The Department of Infrastructure has advised that parking enforcement teams will be back on the streets from June 22 and will issue warnings for one week ahead of the reintroduction of parking penalties on June 29.

Carrickfergus Alliance Alderman Noel Williams commented: “During lockdown, when very few cars were on the road, drivers parking in restricted areas to pop into a chemist or bank were barely noticed, but now with the town centre opening up it is getting out of hand. Of course the Department for Infrastructure suspended parking enforcement during this time.

“Several constituents have contacted me this week to complain about the number of cars being driven in pedestrian zones in Carrickfergus. I have no doubt that it is just the same across the borough in Ballymena, Larne and other smaller towns.

“I believe that the situation will be resolved as parking enforcement teams come back ‘on the beat’ from Monday 22 June 2020.

“Of course, it will have to be the PSNI that deals with offences other than parking, and remind motorists that there are time restrictions in West Street and North Street.

“This will all be part of getting our town centres back to a sense of normality from a traffic perspective, but I do hope people will come into the town centres and shop local.”

Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon stated: “It is important for economic recovery that we all support local businesses at this time and as Minister for Infrastructure, I must ensure that car parking spaces are available for anyone travelling to our town and city centres and that cars are parked safely.

“I know that these decisions may not be popular for some, but I have carefully considered the needs of all those using our roads before making my decision.

“As shops reopen, we are seeing an increase in irresponsible parking and I would urge car users to park responsibly at all times and play their part as we all move towards returning to the new normal.”

Information about cashless parking and the Just Park app is available at www.nidirect.gov.uk

Michelle Weir, Local Democracy Reporter.

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