Park and ride call made for Limerick

LANDS in Ballycummin, Raheen, Mungret and Rosbrien could all be transformed into park-and-ride sites for the city, councillor Joe Leddin has said.

The Labour councillor, who is seeking re-election in City West has proposed these four specific locations which could facilitate areas to allow people take leave their cars outside the city  and ride by public transport the rest of the way.

“In my own electoral area of Limerick City West we are witnessing the significant development of Mungret as part of the Limerick 2030 plan while the expansion of industries and jobs in Raheen industrial estate and the University Hospital is causing huge traffic and parking problems in the surrounding housing estates,” he said, “There are land banks available in the Ballycummin, Mungret and Raheen area that can be developed to provide motorists with parking and rapid access into the city.”

He added: “In the Rosbrien area the Council own a significant land bank of 27 acres which can could potentially help to dramatically reduce the traffic volumes on the Greenfields Road on a daily basis.”

At present, there are no park-and-ride facilities in Limerick city, unlike in Cork and Dublin.

The only exception to this in recent times has taken place in the Christmas shopping period when the former Cleeves toffee factory is used for parking before busses ferry people the rest of the way.

Cllr Leddin says for any park-and-ride facility to be successful, bus services must operate every ten minutes at a minimum.

“We cannot expect to create a vibrant liveable city if those working, visiting or looking to shop cannot easily access and leave the city without the hassle of trying to source parking,” he points out, “The existing park and ride facilities in operation in Black Ash Park in Cork have recently been upgraded arising from increased demand by motorists to change their driving habits and avail of the ten-minute frequency of buses into and out of the city.”

“Every modern city must provide sustainable modes of public transport. Limerick has at different times of the year including Christmas provided parking in temporary locations however we must now plan for the provision of permanent park and ride facilities,” he concluded.