Huge blockade planned over proposed parking charges at Blanchardstown shopping centre
A huge protest and blockade has been planned over the controversial proposed parking changes at Blanchardstown Shopping Centre.
The Dublin northwest shopping centre, one of the biggest in the country, were given a green light by Fingal County Council for a ‘Mobility Enhancement Project,’ which included a new paid parking regime.
However, the plans have proven controversial with punters and employees at the shopping centre alike, with more than 8,000 people signing a petition in an attempt to stop the introduction of paid parking.
A huge protest and blockade has been planned over controversial proposed parking changes at Blanchardstown Shopping Centre.
Citing Liffey Valley previously introducing paid parking — with that also being unpopular — staff feared that something similar will happen to them, with a blockade protest planned for December 6, one of the busiest days for shoppers in the run up to the Christmas period.
The protest was praised by People Before Profit TD Ruth Coppinger, who said that the protest will be a ‘major march’ in the run up to Christmas.
She also lodged an official complaint to An Comisiúin Pleanála with Councillor John Burtachell and Cllr Helen Redwood.
‘We’ve no Luas, we’ve no Metro. We’ve no nothing like that in Dublin West. We’ve got a creaking bus service. And they’re now imposing [parking] charges, but they’re not actually increasing public transport provision in any way,’ Ms Coppinger said earlier this week.
Blanchardstown Centre could introduce paid parking next year. Pic: Gareth Chaney Collins
‘We’ve a whole range of people who can’t even access the centre on public transport. So I will be appealing that with my councillors.’
Trade Union Mandate, who represent workers in Blanchardstown, also called for a protest to the proposed charges, saying that a car park could have a ‘deterrent effect’ on customers who may want to use the car park, but who’re put off by the charges.
‘They fear that this would have a detrimental effect on employment within the centre, which so many workers rely on in the Blanchardstown and surrounding areas,’ Mandate’s divisional organiser Greg Caffrey said.
The shopping centre’s plans have proven controversial, with a protest expected on December 6. Pic: Derek Farrell© RollingNews.ie
‘Mandate, on behalf of its members, calls upon Blanchardstown Centre Management to scrap their plans to introduce parking charges and withdraw their application for barrier tolling.
‘We also call upon the county council to fully consider the detrimental effects barrier tolling will have on the Shopping Centre’s workforce, the general public and the local communities.’
Comments (0)