No to pay parking

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" background="04b785a3.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Councillor Keith Martin </B></FONT><B>     |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Councillor Keith Martin "><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="news21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="News"><U><I><B><U>Back to news page</U></B></I></U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <IMG SRC="09389bd0.jpg" border=0 width="137" height="189" ALT="Large photo Councillor Keith Martin" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>Martin says no On-Street Pay Parking</B></div> <bR> <div> Independent Town Councillor Keith Martin has challenged the assertion of Westport Town Manager, Peter Hynes, that the introduction of on street parking charges in the town, are “inevitable”. Cllr Martin was responding to comments made by the manager when the issue of parking was discussed at the December meeting.</div> <bR> <div> “Mr Hynes has in the past mooted the idea of on street parking as a solution to the low turn over of parking spaces in the town centre but the real solution is a stricter enforcement of our existing parking rules and the implementation of two hours free parking in the off street car parks. This will take the pressure off the streets and allow people to park on our streets to pop into our shops for their shopping,” said Cllr Martin.</div> <bR> <div> “There is nothing inevitable about on street parking charges in Westport. The introduction of such is a matter for the councillors and not for the officials. It is a reserved function of the nine elected representatives. Parking charges cannot be introduced without the vote of the councillors and such a motion will not have my support. Parking in Westport has come under a lot of pressure in recent years with the reduction in the number of parking spaces on Bridge St and other streets due to improvement works around the town” added Cllr Martin.</div> <bR> <div> “While on street parking charges have been introduced in a number of towns and villages around the county this has no bearing on our town. Westport is special and we should keep it special. Just because Castlebar brings in charges does not mean we have to follow suit. Westport’s parking problems would be better dealt with by an aggressive implementation of our existing traffic and parking laws. The only thing inevitable about on street parking in Westport is my opposition to it” Cllr Martin concluded.</div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>