Riverdale car parking charges to begin next week

MOTORISTS in Larne will have to pay 20 pence an hour to park in front of the shops at Riverdale car park, starting from next week.

By The Newsroom

Published 30th Jun 2012, 00:00 BST

Transport Minister Danny Kennedy announced that from Thursday, July 5, Riverdale East will become a paid-for car park, while the other 42 spaces at Riverdale will remain free to use.

Over 300 other free car parking spaces remain in Larne, including at 38 at Bridge Street, 151 at Circular Road East, 87 at Exchange Road, 16 at High Street, and 22 at Inver.

Mr Kennedy believes that introducing car park tariffs will encourage turnover of car parking spaces and help to improve traffic management in town centres.

He has also raised the penalty for illegal parking from £60 to £90, which will be reduced to £45 if paid within two weeks.

But the minister has pledged that on-street parking charges will not be introduced in town centres.