Parking curbs plan to ease Newcastle traffic

Parking curbs plan to ease Newcastle traffic

9 May 2012 - by David Telford

PLANS have been unveiled to ban parking along part of Main Street in Newcastle in a bid to improve traffic flow in the area.

The Roads Service has confirmed it wants to introduce “no waiting” outside the Donard Hotel from 11am to 7pm from April until the end of August which is traditionally the resort’s busiest time.

Twenty three business owners in the area have objected to previous attempts to remove five parking spaces at the top of Main Street but have now been asked to reconsider their objections.

The Roads Service says an experiment carried out over Easter Sunday and Easter Monday when vehicles were not permitted to use the five spaces outside the hotel helped improve traffic flow.

They now hope people opposed to banning parking at this part of the town will agree to “no waiting” restrictions being introduced, but have made it clear that no final decision will be taken until after business owners make known their views.

The news comes two weeks after on-line petition urging Stormont Regional Development Minister Danny Kennedy to ensure the current road layout at the top of Main Street in the resort — where three roads converge —is altered.

The presence of the five parking spaces results in two lanes at the Dundrum Road and one at the Downs Road merging into a single line which continues until the end of the Donard Hotel.

Mr. Brian Sweeney, the man behind the on-line petition, said the single traffic lane leads to “needless tailbacks” and discourages local people and visitors from venturing into the town centre.

He said as a result of the success of the experiment over the Easter holidays and the fact 100 people have signed the on-line petition, the traffic situation at this part of Newcastle is to be reviewed.

Mr. Sweeney continued: “Letters are being sent to traders who lodged their objections about removing the parking spaces asking that they reconsider their position.

“I understand that should they refuse to do so, the matter will be referred for consideration at a higher level, taking into consideration thethoughts of the entire community, not just the desires of 23 traders. Personally, I hope this issue is resolved to the satisfaction of everyone involved.”

A Roads Service spokeswoman confirmed it received over 100 emails asking for the removal of the five parking spaces at the Donard Hotel side of Main Street.

She said as a trial exercise ‘no waiting’ cones were put out at the location on Easter Sunday and Monday which proved a success in terms of improved traffic flow.

The spokeswoman added: “The Roads Service is now proposing ‘no waiting’ between 11am and 7pm between April and August inclusive. Objectors have been written to, asking if they would reconsider their objections in light of the results achieved at Easter. When replies have been received, Roads Service will make a decision.”