Sir, – Jane Stephenson’s suggestion (December 22nd) that her local county council in Greystones follow Dún Laoghaire’s lead by allowing one hour’s free parking in the week running up to Christmas may be well-intentioned, however it runs well short of what is required.
In the midst of a recession when hard-pressed taxpayers are finding less money in their pockets to spend and many businesses, especially the smaller ones, have been crippled, if not decimated as a result, county councils can no longer afford to behave like dictators and indulge the personal whims of unelected officials.
Excessive parking fees have been the bane of Dún Laoghaire’s citizens and business community for too long now.
If our Government is serious in its aspirations to see economic recovery any time soon, then 2012 needs to see some radical change in this area. – Yours, etc,