Galway Bay fm newsroom – The free parking scheme announced for towns across the county could be scrapped tomorrow, just weeks after being approved by councillors.
Following weeks of controversy, a meeting of the full council will tomorrow discuss alternative plans that would have less financial impact on all five county districts.
The free parking scheme has faced fierce criticism in recent weeks from a large number of Councillors, who say they weren’t aware of the financial implications when they cast their vote.
It follows the revelation last month that introducing the scheme to towns across the county would cost the County Council over half a million euro – most of which would likely come from local road maintenance budgets.
At this week’s meeting of the Ballinasloe District, Councillor Tim Broderick asked if there was any chance of scrapping the agreed scheme in favour of one with less impact on Council revenue.
He was told by Director of Services Catherine McConnell that if Councillors wanted to revisit their vote on the scheme, it could be done – but mechanisms to revisit and repeal decisions would have to be followed.
Senior Engineer Adrian Headd admitted that an alternative scheme proposed by Councillor Michael Finnerty was valid – but was not compatiable with what Councillors had voted for.
Councillors were reminded that the free parking scheme is a county-wide initiative – and any decision to scrap the agreed scheme in favor of another would have to be agreed by all 5 districts.
The fate of the free parking scheme looks set to be decided at tomorrow’s full meeting of all 39 County Councillors at County Hall.