We've got it figured

One of the main planks of the Roads Service argument for introducing 'pay & display' at Queen Street car park is that the adjacent 'p & d' car park at Head Street (58 spaces) is often filled to capacity. EWPG counted the empty spaces in Head Street car park three times per day from 6 - 18 October and found the Roads Service claim to be far removed from reality. Indeed we have even forwarded our findings to a representative of Roads Service. The format of this blog does not facilitate the presentation of these figures in spreadsheet form, but anyone interested in obtaining them can contact us via email and we will gladly forward the information.

Alternatively you can read the coverage in our local newspapers:

http://www.nwipp-newspapers.com/FH/free/292915887958056.php

How much longer is Roads Service going to attempt to defend the indefensible? There is no creditable reason for altering the status of Queen Street car park and they know it.

The Facts of Living

The Impartial Reporter (02-10-08) includes an article on the Public Information Event that was held in relation to Queen Street Car Park. During the course of this story reference is made to the fact that the cost of living has increased by £46 per week since September 2007. This info was provided to EWPG by the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland. Should you wish to obtain a more detailed insight as to how the Consumer Council arrived at this figure then you may do so by clicking on the link below:

http://www.consumercouncil.org.uk/publications/

(Cost of living - September 2008 figures)

In view of these alarming statistics, how can Roads Service possibly contemplate proposing to increase the financial burden upon workers even further? It's time for Roads Service to rethink their proposal.

It Doesn't Stack Up

During the course of the Public Information Event, held in Enniskillen Library on 29 September, a Roads Service representative claimed that the proposal to introduce 'pay & display' at Queen Street Car Park is in direct response to a request from the town's traders. This was immediately refuted by Desi Quinn.

A report in the Fermanagh Herald (30-01-08) of a public meeting held in Enniskillen Townhall on Monday, 28 January to address the problems of traffic management and enforcement in Fermanagh would appear to confirm that the proposal in question is not trader driven. The salient paragraph is as follows:

The final blow arrived when Colm McElholm from Roads Service revealed that not only will his Department not consider erecting multi-storey car parks in Enniskillen, but they also have plans to make the free parking facility at Queen Street in Enniskillen a 'pay and display' park, creating further problems for workers in the town.

The full text of this story may be viewed as follows:

http://www.nwipp-newspapers.com/FH/free/345532694578170.php

The Roads Service plan for Queen Street is totally profit driven and will not assist local traders one iota.