Follow Limerick's Lead says Cllr Martin

<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="07189bd0.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> <I>Follow Limerick's Lead says Cllr Martin</I></div> <div> Independent Candidate Keith Martin says that Westport should follow the example of the town of Newcastle West in Co. Limerick and bring in limited free parking in the town’s car parks.  Keith Martin points out that Newcastle West’s existing car park fees were driving business away from the town until local businesses took action and lobbied the Newcastle West’s town councillors for free parking.</div> <bR> <div> In November 2003 following protests by 150 businessmen outside the council offices the town’s councillors voted to change the parking system and now the shoppers of the area get an hour’s free parking during the week and all day Sunday. </div> <div> In Newcastle West the free parking has eased traffic congestion and the businesses and shoppers are happy. The loss of revenue in the short term is worth it when you consider that it is securing the future of the town’s commerce.</div> <bR> <div> I would like to see the same happen in Westport. If they can do it in Limerick why not in Mayo? Why not in Westport? This is what Westport needs but I would prefer to see two hours free parking. </div> <div> We should also have free parking for the month of December and for the first two weeks of January. This would halt the exodus of shoppers from the town at Christmas.</div> <div> Car parking in Westport should be a service provided by the town council. It should not be a source of revenue for the council. The council makes its money from Rates from the town’s businesses and I feel that without free parking in Westport’s car parks the long term financial future of our town is under threat.</div> <bR> <div> I will work hard with the other elected councillors, the council officials and the businesses of the town to see that we get 2 hours free parking in Westport.</div> <div> I have found a lot of support for this idea on the doorsteps of Westport as the difficulty in parking in Westport and the charges associated with it are a big issue with both shopper and shopkeeper alike” stated Martin.</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>