It is the stated objective of the Kilkenny City & Environs Development Plan “To provide for park and walk facilities for car and bus/coach parking at a site or sites in close proximity to the Abbey Creative Quarter Masterplan 1 area, to service both the Masterplan area and the city centre generally, taking into account the mobility management plan for the city.
The existing level of car parking provision in Kilkenny city is almost 4000 spaces within a six-minute walk from the Abbey Quarter, and a further 400 approximately within 10 minutes. The projected city population in 2020 is 27,000.
The 4,000 car parking spaces currently available are operating at well below capacity and provide the opportunity to accommodate many more visitors to the city and the Abbey Quarter.
The proposed increase in car parking spaces at the center of the city will inevitably lead to the negative consequences that accrue, including the air and noise pollution of a historically unique and important site and significant traffic congestion. Such pollution and congestion would diminish the Abbey Quarter and Kilkenny city.
If additional parking is required, and that is questionable, it should be located outside of the city centre and a park-and-ride facility provided.
A strategy of providing parking at a reasonable walking distance (but outside the city centre and Abbey Quarter) to cater for day-long commuters would free up city-centre spaces for tourists and short-term shoppers.
In view of all the above considerations the provision of 25% more car parking spaces within the city centre is unacceptable and has the potential to damage the negatively impact the experience offered by Kilkenny and the Abbey Quarter to residents and visitors alike.
For all the above reasons this variation must be rejected.