Council considers 5 year plan for off-street car parking within Fermanagh and Omagh

by Gráinne Connolly

A 5-year strategy has been developed by professional advisers, AECOM, on behalf of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council to address the overall requirement for off-street car parking within the district.

The strategy was developed following a review of existing parking practices and demand throughout the district following consultation with members of the public and key stakeholders.

The review highlighted a number of key issues around parking in Enniskillen and Omagh which include problems associated with long stay parking in key locations within the town centres; an imbalance between free and charged car parking and different charging arrangements.

Following this review and taking into consideration consultation responses a 5-year off-street car parking strategy was presented to Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, which aims to:

• Provide an appropriate level of parking to support economic vitality;
   
• Ensure that parking is inclusive for all types of users;
   
• Ensure that parking takes place in appropriate locations;
   
• Deliver well managed, high quality parking, utilising technology where possible;
   
• Ensure that car parking provision encourages sustainable commuter travel;
   
• Ensure that parking provision supports business and tourism, a reduction in congestion and pollution and improves road safety.
   

Some of the actions proposed in the strategy for consideration include: 

• The removal of £1 for 5 hours tariff across charged car parks
   
• The introduction of charged car parking or changes to parking tariffs at a number of car parks
   
• Improvements to accessible space provision
   
• Proposals for maintenance and upgrade of car parks
   
• Options for the use of new technologies

Having reviewed the off-street car parking strategy and action plan, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council considers that actions should be introduced on a phased basis and be continually monitored to assess their impacts until the objectives are achieved.

Council Officers will present a proposed initial programme of actions for consideration by Council Members at a future Environmental Services Committee meeting and in the meantime arrangements will remain as they currently are.