Trim to see its 10 minutes 'parking grace' period restored

Trim Town Councillors unanimously voted yesterday (Tuesday) to reinstate the free 10 minutes 'grace' parking period in the town with immediate affect. The move came at a special meeting of the council yesterday afternoon after councillors came under mounting pressure from local traders to reverse their decision to remove the free parking period in their 2012 budget. A vigorous campaign was launched by local traders against the decision and a petition circulated in local businesses attracted some 10,000 signatures. Following meetings between representatives of Trim Area Traders and officials, council cathaoirleach Cllr James O'Shea asked the town manager to look at what changes could be made to the budget to make up the €9,000 required for the reinstatement of the free parking period. Revised figures were brought before councillors at their special meeting yesterday where the €9.000 shortfall was found by making minor adjustments to the figures for housing maintenance, urban road maintenance, maintenance of open space, approach road enhancements and a deferral of the local election provision. Town manager Des Foley said a number of matters had assisted in their review, including the mild weather experienced this year to date, which reduced the requirement for winter gritting and also led to less call-outs for burst water pipes. Speaking after the meeting, Cllr O'Shea said he was delighted that his instruction to the town manager to review the situation had been successful and that the officals were able to come up with a solution to the budgetary problems they had in January. "It has been a tough couple of weeks for all concerned but it was always stated that a quarterly review would be undertaken regarding the 10 minutes 'grace' parking," he said.