Council weighs festive free parking scheme for Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough
- Michelle Weir (Local Democracy Reporter)
- 1 hour ago
- 2 min read
Antrim and Newtownabbey councillors have been asked to consider suspending car parking charges on Saturdays in the run-up to Christmas in a bid to boost town centre trade.
In 2020, the council approved free parking at Market Square Car Park in Ballyclare on each Saturday during December.
The local authority is now seeking to extend this initiative by offering free parking on every Saturday this December at all council-owned car parks in the borough where charges currently apply — Railway Street in Antrim, Whiteabbey Village, and Market Square in Ballyclare.
A report presented to councillors estimated that the proposal would result in a loss of income of £1,474. It indicated that, if approved when the full council meets at Mossley Mill, Newtownabbey, on Monday evening, parking machines across the relevant sites will be adjusted accordingly.
The report added:
“This approach will ensure consistency across the borough and help to promote increased car park usage, supporting local businesses during the festive period.”
Last December, the council reversed a committee decision to introduce charges at five additional car parks, opting instead to increase prices at three existing sites.
Sinn Féin had proposed increasing the hourly rate at existing chargeable car parks from 20p to 40p, which would generate an additional £140,000, applying to car parks at Railway Street in Antrim, Whiteabbey Village, and Market Square in Ballyclare.
Councillors were advised that this rise would double income to £140,000 during the 2025/26 financial year.
They rejected, however, a separate option to introduce charges at five additional car parks alongside the increase to 40p per hour — a move expected to generate around £650,000.
During the 2023/24 financial year, the three chargeable council-owned car parks generated approximately £70,000 in total, including parking fees and penalty charges.
Councillors were also informed last December that an external contractor manages these locations, receiving between 40% and 50% of income annually for cash collection, traffic warden patrols, and issuing penalty charge notices.
Ownership of 11 car parks transferred to Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council from the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) in 2015.