Free pay parking to come to these Kildare towns for Christmas

Free pay parking is to be introduced to Celbridge and Leixlip, Co Kildare over the Christmas period following the representations of a local Fianna Fáil councillor.

Cllr David Trost, motioning at a recent MD meeting, called for free pay parking to be implemented “on a trial basis” between the hours of 10am to 1pm from December 15 to December 31 2025.

Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Trost said he had “thought very carefully” about putting his motion forward, for several reasons.

He explained that this was a unique time for traders in Celbridge – as not only had the Abbey Car Park been closed, restricting parking in the town, but also footfall had suffered due to anti-social behaviour on Main Street.

He said that the month of December was the “bread and butter” for local retailers, in terms of revenue, and parking availability formed a key part of this.

December, he said, “kept the lights on” for many of these retailers, and got them through the very difficult months of January, February and March.

“I know it's not straightforward, I don't have a crystal ball, I don't know if it would work or not...”, he admitted, telling members this is why he was calling for the measure to be introduced on a trial basis.

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Admitting he was usually “anti-free parking”, Cllr Bernard Caldwell (FF) said that nevertheless, he was willing to support Cllr Trost's motion on a trial basis.

However, he noted, people should be made aware that free parking did not mean parking “for the whole day.”

Cllr Caldwell said that where there had previously been free parking in Leixlip, numerous cars were parked in the village from 8.30am in the morning time, when local businesses were not yet open.

Cllr Claire O'Rourke (SD) said she also supported the motion.

She said the fact that the motion stipulated that this would operate on a trial basis would convince her to lend her support.

Responding to councillors, the Director noted that as was stated last Christmas, the council would be against the implementation of free parking in the MD.

This was because, she said, staff who work in local stores are 'locking up' parking spaces for the entire day.

What paid parking does, she explained, is maintain a turnover of parking spaces at a specific location.

The Director pointed out that a survey was carried out after the implementation of free parking in the past, and retailers then “did not notice any difference.”

She also pointed to the financial implications of free parking on the MD.

The Director said the implementation of free pay parking was ultimately a decision for members to decide upon, but she stressed again that such a move is not recommended by the council.

Following the input of several councillors, it was decided to approve Cllr Trost's motion for free pay parking on a trial basis over the Christmas period.

However, the motion was amended to include both Celbridge and Leixlip in the plans, and removed the reference to Abbey Car Park and anti-social behaviour in Celbridge, which Cllr Nuala Killeen (SD) said should not be conflated with the issue.