A DESIGNATED click and collect car park space has been called for on both William Street and on O’Connell Avenue in the heart of Limerick City, across from St Joseph’s Church, to support local retailers as shops and businesses across the city continue to shutter in recent weeks and months.
Fine Gael councillor Peter Doyle called on Limerick City and County Council to allocate this 30-minute free parking for shoppers at January’s meeting of the Metropolitan District.
Parking regulations, Cllr Doyle was informed, do not specifically address click and collect parking spaces. The Council explained that it relies on the enforcement of double yellow lines within the space to prevent overstaying.
“In this way, vehicles which are actively loading or loading for a few minutes can be accommodated. This method of parking enforcement is not suitable for stays of 30 minutes,” said the Council’s Director of Transportation, Patricia Liddy.
Ms Liddy took the view that the future provision or retention of dedicated click and collect spaces should be considered within the broader context of the upcoming Limerick City Centre Transport Plan which is currently under review and will include consideration of charging fees and duration of stay.
“This will ensure that any free parking measures or changes implemented align with objectives as set out in LSMATS (Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy) and the Development Plan sustainable transport objectives, traffic management priorities, and the needs of local businesses and residents,” she concluded.