A Cork City local has accused the council being “happy to shave a few more quid off people who are probably struggling already” after they announced a 30% increase in car parking charges. 

The council owns the two car parks on Main Street and Paul Street and are close to the city centre. 

From today, one hour of parking on Cork Main Street will now cost €3, up from €2.30, while Paul Street will also cost €3, up from €2.70. 

While the council insists the increases are still to reflect many years of inflation, locals are concerned about the impact of people who already have very little. 

On Lunchtime Live, Joe O’Shea of CorkBeo said the Rebel Capital is a “really difficult city to drive around” and many people have no choice but to drive. 

“It's been increasingly pedestrianised and part of the problem is that Cork's a very, very car-centric place,” he said. 

“Cork people, it's very hard to get them out of their cars - and for good reason.

“Our bus service is notoriously terrible, unreliable, it doesn't really function.” 

However, he noted that the fees will still means that the council owned car parks will “cheaper than the privately owned multi storeys in Cork City”. 

Listener Diana, who grew up in Cork’s inner city, said that she still “really loves” that part of the city. 

“I've been there more lately and I wouldn't mind the price of the car park going up if I knew that Cork City Council might fix the pavements outside or that they might give some kind of subsidy,” she said. 

“The North Main Street car park just outside it is a chemist that dispenses drugs to addicts. 

“I know the security guys in there said a lot of the shops have shut because there's a lot of fighting there - these things, they have social issues.

“It seems like Cork City Council is very happy to shave a few more quid off people who are probably struggling already.”

Main image: A car Park sign in Cork city centre. Picture by: Alamy.com.