UUP Transport Minister, Danny Kennedy has announced free on-street parking in Belfast, Lisburn and Newry city centres in the run up to Christmas.
From Monday, 5 December 2011 to Christmas Eve, inclusive, payment for on-street parking will be suspended from 4-30pm, Monday to Friday and all day Saturday, in Newry, Lisburn and the central zone of Belfast city centre.
The Minister said: “I have decided to suspend my Department’s enforcement of on-street car parking charges in Belfast, Lisburn and Newry city centres in the run up to Christmas.
“This is the first time on-street paid parking enforcement has been suspended beyond Belfast city centre. I have also extended the scheme to include all day Saturday as well as after 4-30pm, from Monday to Friday.
“I hope this is a decision that will be welcomed by the three cities where drivers pay for on-street parking all year round. No other towns in Northern Ireland have onstreet paid parking and I hope this will provide these city centres with a boost for the Christmas period.”
The Minister added: “Parking enforcement and charged parking is an effective method of controlling traffic in city centres and parking enforcement staff will closely monitor the scheme to ensure it is not counter-productive to traffic flow.”
Today’s announcement follows the Minister’s decision, earlier this year, that he would not proceed with the plan to roll out on-street parking charges to 30 towns and cities across Northern Ireland.