Parking plan would 'reduce spaces, increase safety'

Proposed changes to parking in downtown Kilcullen will reduce spaces but would improve safety, according to the Market Square plan currently under public consultation, writes Brian Byrne.

In a Parking Report among the Part 8 documents, consultants O'Connor Sutton Cronin note that the current number of up to 100 parking spaces in the area will be reduced to 60 in the plan. The reduction will include the 15 lost when the Market Square is pedestrianised. But the consultants say the on-street reduction will be compensated for by the provision of public-accessible parking behind Fallons, 44 spaces for which planning permission has been given.

The report also says that the scheme will increase safety for pedestrians and cyclists, which 'could lead to a reduction in car parking demand'.

The proposed plan will eliminate parking along the northbound side of the road, taking away current spaces from in front of the Heritage Centre and the former O'Connell Insurances offices, and also from in front of the takeaways further up on that side.

On the southbound side, the perpendicular parking that pertained before the temporary outdoor hospitality facilities were put in place will be permanently removed, leaving two parallel parking spaces and a wheelchair accessible space alongside a widened footpath. There will be two parallel spaces in front of Fallons, and two in front of Brennan's Hardware in the other direction.

The consultants also recommend that on-street parking in Kilcullen be regulated to a maximum of two hours duration.

The full consultants report can be accessed here. People have until 23 March to make submissions on any aspect of the Part 8 proposals. All the documents can be found here. 

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