'We need more enforcement': Calls for 'super wardens' and tap-to-pay parking in Cork city

ALMOST 42,000 parking fines were issued by Cork City Council in the first 10 months of this year, along with just over 500 litter fines.

Information obtained from the city council revealed the local authority handed out 41,994 parking fines between January and the end of October.

The data also shows that Cork City Council issued 516 litter fines in the same period, and collected €42,536 as a result of litter fines.

Speaking to The Echo, former lord mayor and independent councillor Mick Finn, called for greater enforcement powers to tackle both litter and illegal parking in Cork City.

“We have a problem with littering and illegal parking throughout Cork City and I believe we need much more enforcement,” he said.

“I think we need ‘super wardens’ with a multiple remit that would result in much better visibility on the ground.

“I know there would probably be demarcation issues but it would double our presence in both litter prevention and parking issues.

“I was in New York a few years ago and saw citizens telling a person who dropped litter on a sidewalk to pick it up,” he added.

“It’s tolerated here and costs millions to clean up. I have always said that money could be better spent on public realm enhancement.

“Fines are obviously a source of income, but I would much rather have a clean and accessible city.”

Addressing the issue of illegal parking in Cork city, Labour candidate Peter Horgan, said the number of fines appear high.

He added, however, that “when you see the level of illegal parking in the city centre alone, it could be much higher”.

“My colleague councillor John Maher has documented the spate of illegal parking on the newly developed MacCurtain Street for weeks.

“It would be important to see an introduction of the tap-to-pay parking kiosks as have been introduced in the likes of Cobh and Mallow, and to move away from the scratch parking discs, especially to see kiosks in Douglas retrofitted with the tap to pay options.

“The fact that the Cork city parking app still does not extend to Douglas, it needs to be looked at and I have written to officials on that need months ago,” he added.

COUNCIL DEFENDS PARKING REGIME

A spokesperson for Cork City Council said: “There is a significant parking enforcement regime in place in Cork city.

“This level of enforcement is evidenced by the number of fines issued year to date. However, Cork City Council needs to be proportionate in their response to enforcement.

“A balanced approach is required to encourage motorist to park legally while still encouraging visitors to the city.”

On the issue of paying for parking in the city, the spokesperson said: “There are two payment regimes in place to allow drivers to pay for parking on a public road, ie, pay parking disc or park by phone.

“Cork City Council believes the future is in the park by phone system as the majority of people use mobile phones and this methodology does not cause street clutter.

“The parking regime is Douglas is different to the regime in the city centre — ie, period of free parking, cost of parking, payment method,” the spokesperson stated further.

“The difference arises as it was agreed that the regime place before the boundary extension would remain in place.”