LIMERICK needs park and ride facilities if the local authority is ever to reduce the number of cars coming into the city.
That’s according to city west Labour Party councillor Joe Leddin who had a motion before this month’s Metropolitan District meeting of Limerick City and County Council asking them to identify suitable park and ride sites.
“There’s a lot of talk about getting people out of cars and on to public transport but if we’re serious we have to have park and ride facilities or we’re at nothing,” he said.
There were “huge issues,” around the hospitals with staff, patients and visitors parking in neighbouring estates.
“We need to have park and ride facilities in Mungret, Ballykeefe and Ballysimon,” he said.
City West councillor, Elisa O’Donovan (SD) proposed that the council fund a feasibility study to explore alternatives parking for patients, staff and visitors at University Hospital Limerick.
“People are parking on pavements, across driveways and all over the place. Residents living near the hospital have had enough,” she said.
She pointed to a system operated by the National Health Service in the UK where they provide ‘hopper’ buses to their hospitals.
City north councillor Brian Leddin (Greens) sought clarification on when the next public consultation would be in relation to the city’s Transport Policy.
City Manager, Kieran Lehane said the National Transport Authority’s study of transport needs would look at issues such as park and ride facilities. To have a specific study on such facilities would be expensive and a duplication of work.
