Mayor supports '˜five for a pound' parking

Peter Nixon, on left, from The Corner Bakery, is pictured with Councillor Billy Ashe, Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough; Angela Ritchie, Elite Lighting; Roy Smyth, Outdoor Adventure and Libs McAllister, Ultimate in Fashion. INLT 09-727-CON

The £1 for five hours parking scheme, which runs in all MEA council-operated car parks, is already well established.

“The current Public Realm works in Ballymena and Larne have placed temporary restrictions on some of our on-street car parking,” Cllr Ashe said. “This type of incentive can therefore only help our town traders.”

The car parking initiative provides further reason for shoppers to stay in the town centres for a longer amount of time and get around the wide range of shops and services available, according to local trader, Libis McAllister.

“All the car parks are positioned around the town centre and are within a short walking distance of our main shopping streets,” she said.

When parking in a car park where the scheme applies, £1 will provide up to five hours parking.

Normal tariffs under £1 will still be available and normal tariffs will apply if parking for more than five hours.

The Parkmobile Cashless Payment System is also available in all pay and display off-street car parks and on-street charged car parking locations across the borough.

This system provides an alternative method of paying for parking other than using coins at the pay and display machines.

Customers first need to register their details with the web site www.parkmobile.co.uk