'Reasonable' fees in new Portlaoise public carpark

A large new carpark is about to open for Portlaoise commuters and visitors, with the fees agreed this week by Portlaoise Municipal District councillors.

The Railway Street carpark is right next to Portlaoise train station, and there will be options for long term cheap parking.

The 93 space carpark is on former CBS school playing fields, beside the new Goldencroft social housing apartment blocks.

It is to open on Tuesday, October 10.

It will be owned and operated by Laois County Council, under the control of the town's traffic wardens.

The councillors agreed the fee amounts, at their September meeting.

It will cost €2 for up to three hours, €4 a day, €11 a week, and €30 a month, but the monthly permit must be purchased from Laois County Council's roads department in county hall.

The Cathaoirleach Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald proposed the approval.

"It is very reasonable," she said, seconded by Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley.

Cllr Thomasina Connell said the fees are good value, and other private carparks are "generally dearer".

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Cllr Willie Aird urged a cap on the number of permits pre-purchased, so that anyone coming for a train at the last minute might still have a chance of finding an empty space.

Engineer Paul McLoughlin agreed that this can be considered, but demand will be gauged at first. 

"It is close to the rail station but also to the town, we want to see a dividend for both, so we don't sell them all to rail passengers," he said.

The carpark will have a barrier system he said.