On Saturday morning I decided to head into the city centre with my daughter to do a few bits and pieces and sit down and have a coffee / hot chocolate together.  We had a lovely morning, enjoyed the atmosphere, looked at the Christmas display in Brown Thomas and had our few treats in the coffee shop.  We had arrived at 9.40am and were leaving just before 1pm.  I had parked in one of my ‘regular’ car parks – Q Parking at Harvey’s Quay, the one over Dunnes.

I put my parking ticket in the machine and had a fiver in my hand, which is roughly what I usually pay for a few hours parking.  I thought I may have to dig out a couple of coins on top of the fiver, but was not expecting to be asked for €9.20.   So I buzzed down to reception and told them there seemed to be a problem with the ticket machine.  He told me to come down to him and he would sort it out.  When I got there however he explained that that was the price.  That they have introduced a new pricing system.

ME: “You have increased your prices by a large margin in the middle of a recession?”

HIM: “It’s actually cheaper now for short periods.  Our reseach has shown that lots of business users use this carpark and would like the ability to pay by the quarter hour.”

ME: “I don’t know who conducts their business in 15 minutes. It takes 5 mins to get out of this place.  The price has shot up for me and I’m really not happy about it.”

HIM: “Did you not see the prices?”

ME: “No.  They are not displayed at the entrance of the carpark.  They are only displayed at the parking meter.  It’s too late then.”

HIM: “Lots of people are happy with the new pricing.”

ME:  “I find that very hard to believe.”

At this stage a woman gets out of her car at the barrier, waving her ticket and shrieking at him.

WOMAN:  “I’m only here two hours!!”

So just a little warning.  Q Parking now charge per €0.60 per 15 minutes for the first 3 hours, supposedly to accommodated their many business users who are apparently able to conduct their business in a much more timely manner than I can!  Pricing reverts to €2 hourly after the first 3 hours.  Cornmarket Square charges a more reasonable €1.50 per hour.

In April, Limerick City Council orchestrated a major push to encourage people back into the city centre shops.  This was widely supported by the local radio and print media. It is a well known fact that Limerick City parking prices and availability are strangling city retail at the moment.  When the price that car parks charge affects footfall in the city it is time for Limerick City Council to intervene on a more longterm and meaningful basis.