Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council says income generated from the first year of seasonal car parking charges at Portrush and Ballycastle was “less than anticipated”.

Last year, councillors agreed to introduce seasonal car parking charges – from April until September – at Ballycastle Harbour and Ballycastle Marina car parks, as well as the West Bay car park in Portrush.

Rathlin residents who park overnight at Ballycastle, non-residents with permanent employment on the island, and berth holders within the marina are also eligible for free parking permits, 189 of which have been issued.

During January’s Environmental Services Committee, Council’s Environmental Health Director, Aidan McPeake said the projected income from the first year of seasonal charges at the car parks was £220,000.

Members of January’s Environmental Services Committee were told income form the first year of charged car parking in Portrush and Ballycastle was “less than anticipated”. PIXABAY

placeholder image — Members of January’s Environmental Services Committee were told income form the first year of charged car parking in Portrush and Ballycastle was “less than anticipated”. PIXABAY

However Council’s actual income was £166,739, with a net income of £139,122 after enforcement costs, more than £80,000 less than expected.

Mr McPeake told members it was “always going to be difficult” for officers accurately predict the income from the new charges, and he and his team will “make the adjustments” for year two.

“We had very few complaints, it worked really well, and I’m hoping that will continue for a year two,” he added. “But the number of permits that we had to issue out is probably slightly greater than what we had anticipated [and] the income is less than what we had anticipated.”

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Responding to Alliance councillor Lee Kane, Mr McPeake confirmed the income collected included pay and display units at the car parks, app transactions, and any fixed penalty notices for unpaid parking, but Council received no income from parking during certain events.

“West Bay was leased as part of the Open and we received funding for that ut there were other events that took place on that car park like North West 200 [and] the Ford Fair that we didn’t receive any income from. So that was missed and the Lammas Fair in Ballycastle, there’s no recompense for that,” he said.

UUP councillor Richard Holmes noted the variance between projected and actual income at West Bay was particularly high, at over £61,000.

Mr McPeake responded: “We were basing it on a capacity of 80% capacity during the high season and in reality we didn’t make that."