Liffey valley to start charging for parking

Cienciano

I saw Liffey Valley trending on twitter and it was all about the staff parking charges. Seems to be protests with support from Gino Kenny a local TD. Hopefully they get rid of the staff fees

Xopher

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119764621#Comment_119764621

No one should be charged additional money to do their job

WishUWereHere

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119551153#Comment_119551153

What has that got to do with the topic?

WishUWereHere

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119563969#Comment_119563969

There certainly was an issue with analytic converters being thieved from cars. It was even on Liveline.

WishUWereHere

Speaking as an infrequent shopper to LV:

I think the powers that be scored an OG here. The treatment of employees who drive there is wrong imho. Yes there is an allocated spot for staff parking( I saw a flashing sign informing this ), but I read elsewhere that it is not fit for purpose.

As someone wrote above, it’s one thing paying for undercover parking, but to have to pay for open air is a no no for me.

Be interesting to see the footfall after the sales in January.

Hotblack Desiato

Would not surprise me one bit if the January sales become closing down sales for quite a few places.

iamwhoiam

I have to fly in to M and S to chance a size I bought . Its now going to cost me €2.50 to exchange an item .

gmisk

I was in yesterday around midday for about an hour it was definitely a bit quieter than normal going by cars parked and footfall around the place.

Lot of the pay machines not working so had to pay when leaving. They had a little area with sofas etc to explain the parking...lol...I would say it is a PR nightmare.

I suppose 2.50 for 3 hours parking is ok...but if you just want to nip to m&s or return something to a shop it is a lot....

Unsurprisingly Tesco car park looked very busy...

Hotblack Desiato

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119769276#Comment_119769276

Something to bear in mind from now on when deciding where to purchase...

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119769588#Comment_119769588

Definitely.

I'd rather pay €1 to visit Penneys @ the Square, rather than €2.50 to visit Penney's @ Liffey Valley.

WishUWereHere

I was talking to a friend today who was in LV earlier today. He remarked how few cars were in the car park.

I wonder has the proverbial already hit the fan?

I drove past around lunchtime as I was curious. I wasn't planning on going in, but if i was, I wouldn't have bothered. It's still a big mess, with cones everywhere. They need to get it sorted and done before Christmas or its going to be an even worse nightmare than usual.

Car park didn't look busy, but didn't look emptier than usual for a Wednesday afternoon.

gmisk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119772157#Comment_119772157

I would say a lot of the tenants won't exactly be thrilled if footfall is down will really hit their profits...the Marks and Spencer end was already quiet tbh (though Zara has helped)

appledrop

I was a regular at Liffey Valley, went every week or at least fortnightly.

However I haven't been since the summer, due to shambolic roadworks.

When I was stuck for extra 40mins one day with baby crying in car I said feck this I'm never doing this again.

I don't even mind the charges that much, although very wrong on staff, but what I do hate is hassle.

That fact you have choice of paying at barrier is the stupidest thing they have ever done. Imagine the ejects you will be stuck behind as they try to figure out how to pay?

Going on about their brilliant new system, what a load of crap. Even the National Botanical Gardens got rid of their pay at gate option as disaster for queues.

Pherekydes

Went to LV today and parked in the retail park. Quite a lot of cars there compared to usual.

Capt'n Midnight

You can use coins at the machine in the Square, Liffey Valley is cashless only.

WishUWereHere

i heard on the radio during the week adverts for Halloween events in LV.

I could be wrong but I don’t recall them ever doing this before. Are there already panic stations?

iamwhoiam

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119776760#Comment_119776760

are there no barriers in the retail parks ? Good news if there are not

Dodge

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119778004#Comment_119778004

That’s some reach. Laughable really

Anyway, Mrs Dodge was there last night and reckoned it was slightly busier than normal.

Pherekydes

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119778329#Comment_119778329

No barriers. Yet!

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119778004#Comment_119778004

No, they always had halloween events.

The entrance at the roundabout at McDonalds / Retail Park is now for staff only. Guy there today directing traffic with a big sign.

iamwhoiam

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119780255#Comment_119780255

So are no other cars allowed in there ? Currys and Argos and The Range etc

Pherekydes

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119780384#Comment_119780384

You can access the retail park from there, but the car park on the other side of the roundabout, next to Eddie Rocket's, is for LV staff.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119780384#Comment_119780384

Sorry, no I meant the roundabout that leads into the back of Liffey valley! There is no restriction on parking at The Range, etc.

WishUWereHere

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119778593#Comment_119778593

I think the weather will have a huge bearing on the footfall walking over. But if the Retail Park gets full on a continuous basis, I’m sure it won’t be long until barriers are erected.

Personally? I’ll just avoid LV from here on.

Snake Plisken

Pure greed by the owners surprised Anchor stores like Dunnes Penny's & M&S didn't protest more. How much did they waste on these works? It's a joke trying to drive around the centre.

I can see Citywest having to act sooner rather than later and put in some parking controls.

It's becoming impossible to get a parking space above ground during the day. Went up around 10am Friday morning to use the banklink and visit the pharmacy and had to circle the carpark 3 times before getting a space, and this is not the first time, recently. I'd say easily 60% of the available spaces were taken up by work vehicles, so maybe workers on the various sites surrounding the centre? I got a disability space eventually (have a badge) but someone double parked behind me, with blinkers on.

There is now often a queue to get into the centre itself, with the McDonalds drive-thru queue so long it causes a physical obstruction to cars trying to enter the above ground carpark that tails right back to the roundabout. I've seen some dangerous driving there, were frustrated drivers trying to get around it. (not an excuse).

rodge123

The spokesman added that there had been “and continues to be extensive communication regarding these changes with all our stakeholders including with our retailers. It is largely understood and accepted that the delivery of an enhanced customer experience will ultimately benefit the retail businesses at Liffey Valley and their staff.  The changes are already resulting in a much-improved parking experience for all, and we believe has already reduced the number of commuters and frequent parkers who neither visited nor worked at the centre.”

https://www.irishtimes.com/business/work/2022/10/23/liffey-valley-retail-workers-protest-new-pay-parking-charges-they-say-will-mean-effective-pay-cut/

Have you ever read such complete and utter garbage in your entire life! Taking people for complete idiots with that PR tripe.

Just be honest and say we wanted to maximise the return on prime real estate land for our multi billion Euro investment fund!

Dr_Colossus

Has anyone been to the cinema this week and had their parking validated and how did that work?

According to the Q&A section:

22. Will I be charged for parking when visiting the cinema?

Vue Cinema customers will be entitled to have their parking validated once a valid cinema ticket has been scanned. Please speak to Vue staff for further details.

Have tickets booked for tomorrow evening for The Banshees of Inisherin but they're electronic tickets with a QR code. Great value in Vue with tickets from €6, Blanch is my nearest cinema but tickets there are a whopping €15.50 so haven't darkened their door in years.

appledrop

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119783897#Comment_119783897

Absolutely hilarious, would that be the enhanced months on end of increased queues to get into centre due to roadworks?

Or would it be the enhanced experience in M&S carpark that worked perfectly before but now they have gone and messed it up and people no longer know how to drive or park in it?

If its such an enhanced experience why gave they lost a regular customer like me?

alias no.9

I was dropping one of my lads to the cinema today, the roundabout at the cinema carpark entrance was blocked with cones and a couple of folks in high vis. I was able to explain that it was just a drop off and they let me through but they really need to sort a set down area for the cinema because I expect its a common occurrence. At least there seems to be 15 minutes grace period so that should cover the really quick stops.

The laughable thing however was that they were just waving cars through the exit barriers, whether that was a technical issue or because of the tailbacks that pay on exit was causing.

Snake Plisken

Saw this posted on facebook, they are not doing themselves any favours

"Just something I wanted to share that happened early today to me 🤔, so of I went to Liffey Valley Shopping Centre , so as you enter the car park now there is new barriers and your car reg is scanned and in you go , so after doing a bit of shopping I was there about 50 minutes, I left , and went over to the pay machines to pay and there is car park attendants to show you how to use the new machines , and you enter your car reg and it tells you how much you’ve to pay , mine came to €2.50 cent , the attendant says you tap your bank card , to pay , 

I said I don’t have a bank card with me , I said we’re is there cash payment , he said you have to go into customer service get a gift voucher card and pay them cash 

So of I went and I approached customer services , to ask for a €2.50 gift voucher card to pay for car parking , and she says the minimum you can purchase one for is €10 🤔, but I said all I want is €2.50 to pay for car parking , no her reply was you must buy one for €10 that is the minimum amount you can purchase a gift card for , so I then asked , so we’re can I go to pay for the car parking , I said I’m willing to pay the €2.50 for car parking , but you’d don’t have the facility for me to pay it , 

At no we’re did I see as you enter the car park that , you must pay by card 

Just another kick in the teeth to bring in a cashless society 🤔….and how mad the world is getting 🤷🤷"

Dodge

It’s not that mad. She forgot her bank card She’ll bring it the next time (or park elsewhere, go elsewhere).

It’s no big deal and I’d wager 99.99% of drivers to Liffey Valley will have a card (or phone to pay) with them

HeidiHeidi

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119785977#Comment_119785977

What about the 00.01% who don't, who forget their wallet? Or more, more likely.

If that story is true, it's a bit mad that they don't have some means of paying the amount owed in cash - not buying a gift card for 4 times the amount. And it sounded like they forgot to tell the gift card sellers that they were part of the system!

Anyway, the few times I was there in the past couple of months, it was a nightmare of traffic cones, traffic jams, and roadworks. Sounds like it hasn't improved much. And with the weather disimproving by the day, and Christmas coming I reckon you'll need to bring a picnic and a sleeping bag with you just in case.

I was one of the ones who used to drop in from time to time when I was out that direction, or passing on the N4 - I'll be getting on the luas to M&S in town from now on - Liffey Valley's loss.

Dodge

There’s no way to pay cash. They’ve advertised that. The 00.01% can buy the gift card and use it for their next four trips if they wish.

If they don’t want to go to Liffey valley ever again, they can use the gift card in loads of places as it’s just a money card

Sure it’s a pisser for them but lesson learned

Snake Plisken

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119785977#Comment_119785977

No it is Mad as if I park in the Airport Stephens Green Dundrum Pavilions Jervis Ilac The Square I have the option to pay cash. It should be the same here. The owners just don't want the cost of putting in machines that take cash to validate the tickets

Dodge

And you can’t in Liffey Valley. It’s not a big deal at all.

Vote with your feet if it’s an issue. As you said, there’s plenty of places who will accept coin (for a while anyway)

Dr_Colossus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119785040#Comment_119785040

Worked very well, on entry to cinema once you said you were driving you were given a little card with a QR code to scan at one of the pay stations after. I was 2hrs 45mins roughly in total so under the 3hr mark for €2.50 so not sure if it would cover a longer duration if you were to get food, shopping etc before hand. Hassle free and would encourage repeat custom but it looks like Vue is covering this cost rather than any concession from the owners so whether that's viable long term remains to be seen.

Well, I said it would have to happen, sooner or later.

I was just up at Citywest Shopping Centre and the clampers are out in force today. I saw at least a dozen vehicles (cars and work vans) in just one row alone, all clamped and a lot of guys in Hi-Vis and hard hats looking very annoyed. Two APOCA clamper vans and a guy who looked like he was from from Centre management with a walkie talkie, in the car park.

SteM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119791088#Comment_119791088

Yeah, that doesn't surprise me at all. It's very obvious that the carpark there is being used by a lot of lads working on local sites, that upper carpark always seems busy during the day now.

Princess Calla

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119791088#Comment_119791088

Why were they clamped?

Parked dangerously or staying over the time limit?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119792860#Comment_119792860

Over time limit. Its 3 hours, max stay. This was around 1pm, so they probably parked up early this morning,

I'm just back from my first trip into Liffey Valley in well over a year and I have to say I found the parking system quite easy and straightforward and not a problem. If there's any hassle or queues at Christmas it will probably be down to people trying to pay at the barrier instead of paying at the machines before leaving the centre. Overall, the car park was business as usual, very busy. Disability spots all full!

cullenswood

I registered for an online account, so I assume I just drive in and drive out and it will charge my credit card automatically?

How does it work with the cinema and the free parking though? Will it not scan my reg and charge anyway?

Hotblack Desiato

@[Deleted User] did you go down to the M&S maze? Been there twice since it was changed and both times I could see loads of spaces but not figure out how to get to them...

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119796022#Comment_119796022

No I didn't - I went into the TKMaxx / Penneys side.

zg3409

My better half was there on a weekday recently. Massive queues for payment machines with queue moving very slow. People did not know their car reg and needed to return to car to check it. Putting in full reg of car took a lot of time versus shoving a ticket in.

She was unaware of pay at the barrier and there was no signs in the queue for the machines that pay at the barrier was an option. This would reduce queues at machines. I can imagine at xmas with loads of out of town visitors the queues at the machines will be massive.

average_runner

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119796150#Comment_119796150

The machines by penny's had a sign last week saying u can pay on your way out

whee5

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119551153#Comment_119551153

That’s an absolute disgrace.

Maybe it’s time to get some fake Ukrainian plates. The Gardaí and traffic wardens won’t know the difference, nor would that have a dossier of “real” plates.

whee5

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119769005#Comment_119769005

What difference does it make if the parking you pay for is open air or not?

A good chunk of the pavilions car park is open air… as are Iarnród Éireann car parks which are run by NCPS.