Minister urged to consider park and ride scheme to ease congestion

Minister urged to consider park and ride scheme to ease congestion

15 August 2012

STORMONT roads minister Danny Kennedy has been asked to consider the a park and ride scheme to ease town centre congestion in Downpatrick.

The idea was suggested by South Down MP Margaret Ritchie when the minister visited the town last week to meet local politicians and traders. Mr. Kennedy also visited Newcastle to meet business leaders and elected representatives.

Miss Ritchie said for too long the traffic problems in the town have been subject to a “piecemeal approach” by Roads Service and claimed the organisation has not had strategic vision to deal with the issue.

She suggested the provision of a park and ride scheme at the Belfast Road on one of the main approaches to the town could ease town centre congestion. The South Down MP believes such a scheme could also provide a service for people coming to Downpatrick to visit heritage sites in the area and for those who work in the town.

She continued: “The minister has undertaken to look specifically at the possibility of a park and ride scheme and I await his assessment.

“With regard to town centre traffic congestion, Mr. Kennedy shares the concern that a proposed new road linking Irish Street and St. Patrick’s Avenue needs to be prioritised as it would provide an additional traffic route.”

Miss Ritchie said traders expressed concern that there was no uniform approach to parking restrictions in the town centre, with parking in some areas permitted for one hour and 30 minutes in others. She said Mr. Kennedy agreed this would cause confusion for shoppers and agreed to investigate this matter.

The MP continued: “I made it clear that while schemes at Irish street and Collins’ Corner are welcome, people want to see Downpatrick and South Down given a fair share of the strategic roads budget.”

During Mr. Kennedy’s visit to Newcastle, the need for increased parking provision was highlighted as a result of the major increase in visitors to the resort following its multi-million pound regeneration.

Miss Ritchie suggested a survey of parking need is required and believes a number sites in the town centre, once earmarked for retail and other development, could be utilised to provide new parking provision.

“Mr. Kennedy recognised that since the public realm work was completed Newcastle has increased in popularity and that if it’s to continue on this upward trend and maintain its position as a leading seaside town, it must provide facilities for visitors,” the MP continued.

“He accepted Newcastle has a parking shortfall and has undertaken to update the Department of Regional Development’s assessment of the car parking needs in the town and potential car parking sites.”

The MP added: “Tourism is our main economic driver in South Down. It is the responsibility of us all to ensure everything possible is done to exploit our tourism potential.”