Derry - Disgraceful parking charges

lazer

Reading this on the BBC about how towns are introducing reduced parking for Christmas

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-25100959

remninded me about the disgraceful parking charges in Derry.
In Derry, parking in council car parks is free on a sunday, except during November and December - what a way to encourage shoppers into the town.

It now appears as if it will be a £1 for up to 5 hours which limits the impact of this - but I still think it is a complete disgrace to start charging for Sunday in the run up to Christmas.

Most towns and cities are reducing parking charges to encourage people into the town centres, Derry is increasing Sunday Parking Charges!

esson1

We are going up there this weekend.
Where is the best place to park for the weekend (Friday and Saturday nights)
Staying on Strand Rd

GlynD

I'll be totally honest here. Last time I was in Derry, not too long ago, the traffic was in chaos. It has put me off from ever returning except where there is an absolute necessity.

lazer

esson1 wrote: »

We are going up there this weekend.
Where is the best place to park for the weekend (Friday and Saturday nights)
Staying on Strand Rd

I would ask your hotel about, they have have parking or special rates in some of the car parks, or they may even have their own car park.

The is a large car park along the quay which would be handy for the Strand Road, not sure how much it is though

attritioner

lazer wrote: »

remninded me about the disgraceful actions of Derry City Council.

In Derry, parking in council car parks is free on a sunday, except during November and December - what a way to encourage shoppers into the town.

It now appears as if it will be a £1 for up to 5 hours which limits the impact of this - but I still think it is a complete disgrace to start charging for Sunday in the run up to Christmas.

Not sure what you are getting at, can you clarify your point as I was under the impression that the majority of car parks are operated by Roads Service whom set the tariffs. The link you posted shows that roads service are introducting the Sunday charge not Derry City Council :think:

I've also noticed the Sunday parking charge for November and December as they are displayed on the Pay-and-Display tarrif signs (but thought this was Roads Service and not Derry City Council). Are you saying that DCC are charging more for parking at DCC car parks on a Sunday? Can you tell me which car parks these are?

Thanks

GlynD

attritioner wrote: »

Not sure what you are getting at, can you clarify your point as I was under the impression that the majority of car parks are operated by Roads Service whom set the tariffs. The link you posted shows that roads service are introducting the Sunday charge not Derry City Council :think:

I've also noticed the Sunday parking charge for November and December as they are displayed on the Pay-and-Display tarrif signs (but thought this was Roads Service and not Derry City Council). Are you saying that DCC are charging more for parking at DCC car parks on a Sunday? Can you tell me which car parks these are?

Thanks

Never thought of that but did a check on their website and you're correct. Derry City Council don't have anything to do with the car parks in the city.

lazer

attritioner wrote: »

Not sure what you are getting at, can you clarify your point as I was under the impression that the majority of car parks are operated by Roads Service whom set the tariffs. The link you posted shows that roads service are introducting the Sunday charge not Derry City Council :think:

I've also noticed the Sunday parking charge for November and December as they are displayed on the Pay-and-Display tarrif signs (but thought this was Roads Service and not Derry City Council). Are you saying that DCC are charging more for parking at DCC car parks on a Sunday? Can you tell me which car parks these are?

Thanks

In that case it the Roads Service that is a disgrace and not DCC - I jsut assumed it was the council since the only place I have seen this is in Derry, do the Sunday charges also exist in all DRD car parks then or just Derry?

PS - how do i change the thread title?

GlynD

lazer wrote: »

In that case it the Roads Service that is a disgrace and not DCC - I jsut assumed it was the council since the only place I have seen this is in Derry, do the Sunday charges also exist in all DRD car parks then or just Derry?

PS - how do i change the thread title?

To change the thread title press "edit" then "go advanced" and you'll see from there how to change it. It's easy peazy.

attritioner

Strand road is quite long so it depends. Free street parking is available in quite a few locations but not much in the city centre.

Most city centre car parking is now pay-and-display. Some street parking is available free but check for 1-hour parking zones are they are common in city centre. I would avoid street parking in the city centre overnight, in particular avoid overnight parking in Fahan Street if you are staying nearby (i.e. Tower Hotel).

If you are anywhere near the police station on the Strand Road then you can park free in the University car park on Lawrence Hill from 5pm Friday until early Monday morning. Just take a ticket on entering but no charge to park at the weekend

City Hotel has its own small car park, Travel lodge use the Quayside multistory, DaVincis have their own car park with free parking.

Supermarkets such as Sainsburys have now implemented 3hr maximum stays to prevent people using the car park for other purposes. Similarly Smyths toy store car park.

Park-in-ride will be operational this weekend for the Luiminare (http://www.lumiere-festival.com/). Would be a nice weekend to do your shopping

esson1 wrote: »

We are going up there this weekend.
Where is the best place to park for the weekend (Friday and Saturday nights)
Staying on Strand Rd

attritioner

lazer wrote: »

In that case it the Roads Service that is a disgrace and not DCC - I jsut assumed it was the council since the only place I have seen this is in Derry, do the Sunday charges also exist in all DRD car parks then or just Derry?

PS - how do i change the thread title?

The link in the BBC story indicates that Roads Service will have a special parking rate in 25 towns over Christmas so I guess its in most DRD car parks in the other towns on the list.

As Sundays are not chargable from January to October it seems to be profiteering at its best from our regional government :mad:

BBC wrote:

Five hours parking will cost £1 in 95 car parks operated by the Department for Regional Development.

Towns with special parking rate

Antrim
Armagh
Ballyclare
Ballymena
Ballymoney
Banbridge
Bangor
Carrickfergus
Coleraine
Downpatrick
Dungannon
Enniskillen
Hillsborough
Holywood
Larne
Limavady
Lisburn
Londonderry
Lurgan
Magherafelt
Newry
Newtownards
Omagh
Portadown
Strabane