Car park charges are set to rise

Motorists looking to park in either Ballymoney Road, Broughshane Street or Church Street Three car parks are going to have to delve a little bit deeper into their pockets.

A DRD spokesperson said: “Car parking charges in the Department for Regional Development’s Roads Service charged car parks in Ballymena will increase from August 29.

“The following car parks will be affected: Ballymoney Road, Broughshane Street and Church Street 3.

“The car park increases will generally raise the tariffs by 10p per hour and will be rolled out across Northern Ireland on an incremental basis over the next few weeks.

“The increases will encourage turnover of car parking spaces which will help to improve traffic management and promote the commercial and tourist vitality of our towns.

“Legislation for this increase was approved by the Assembly in March 2011 and this has been advertised in the local press.

“This is the first tariff rise in a number of years, some have not increased in 12 years, and the increases will bring charges closer to private sector car parking prices. This will contribute towards the cost of Roads Service parking operations.

“Roads Service currently manages 132 charged car parks across Northern Ireland; 123 of these car parks will have the tariffs increased, six will stay the same, and three will have reduced tariffs.”