‘Parking limit extension unlikely to go ahead’

The Ulster Unionist was one of a number of public representatives to raise with Roads Service the concerns of some Dromore traders that rigid enforcement of the one-hour restriction was driving off trade.

Local calls for a one-hour extension, allowing drivers to park for up to two hours in some parts of the town centre, recently went out to public consultation, a process which drew to a close on June 22.

Prior to the process, while there was some argument in favour of retaining the current limit, most vocal were those who protested what they considered over-zealous parking enforcement and its claimed impact on trade.

Traders were urged to take part in the consultation, but according to Mrs. Mercer the process has had a, some might say, unexpected, result.

“At the request of several of the Market Square traders,” she said, “Roads Service Traffic Section agreed to initiate a consultation period with a view to extending the current one-hour parking restriction to two hours. Roads Service also included Princes Street, Bridge Street and Meeting Street in the consultation and all traders were encouraged to make their views known.

“Based on the views of those who took the opportunity to respond to Traffic Section, it now seems unlikely that the change, as originally requested by the Market Square traders, will be implemented at this stage, with the current one-hour parking restriction remaining in place. “