'Bizarre' difference in parking cost between Athlone and Mullingar

The cost of an annual parking permit for people working in Westmeath's two biggest towns is more than three times higher in Athlone than it is in Mullingar.

The yearly permits which can be purchased by employers or employees in the two towns allow them to park in designated council parking areas. For Mullingar the annual permit from the council costs €200, but for Athlone the cost is more than treble that, at €675.

The discrepancy was queried by Cllr Aengus O'Rourke, who described it as "astonishing" and "bizarre" at this month's meeting of the Athlone Moate Municipal District.

He said he didn't believe there was "any justification" for such a vast difference in the cost of yearly parking in council spaces in the two towns.

A written response from the council said the the availability and suitability of parking spaces for business parking were factors that had been considered when setting the fees.

It said that while €675 was the "general rate per annum" in Athlone, a permit specifically for the O'Connell Street/Connaught Street parking areas was available for €360.

"The fee for an annual business parking permit in Athlone is set based the number and location of parking spaces available in the town and the ongoing demand for parking spaces," said the council.

"It is considered that the priority is to maintain free-flowing traffic and availability of spaces for people coming to town as tourists, visitors, and to do business in the town. The fee for annual parking is set in line with these considerations.

"Mullingar is a very different town in terms of car parking provision and the charge for a parking permit has been determined taking account of all the various considerations and context," the council concluded.

Cllr O'Rourke indicated that he wasn't satisfied with the response. "Can we look at this again?" he asked.

It was agreed that the matter would be raised at the next meeting of the local authority's car parking sub-committee.