Liffey valley to start charging for parking

whee5

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058261114/liffey-valley-to-start-charging-for-parking

What’s wrong with reverse parking? It’s safer for all concerned.

McGrath5

Was up there this week, payment for parking was easy and the center was busy. I was expecting a ghost town after the prediction of doom from a lot on here.

unkel

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119796265#Comment_119796265

Not that again. Thousands of lives are lost worldwide because of reverse parking, simply because it takes longer 😂 Angled parking like they had before takes up more space, but is by far the quickest method. Obviously they got rid of this superior system so they can have a few dozen more spaces so they can squeeze a few more quid out of the paid parking

whee5

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119796426#Comment_119796426

If you can’t reverse park a little tykes car then maybe stick to the rothar or the bus.

unkel

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119796433#Comment_119796433

It's not that people can't reverse park, it just simply takes longer than driving directly into an angled parking space. So it costs time (thus lives and money) to reverse park. This is not an opinion, it is fact.

whee5

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119796443#Comment_119796443

What if a child walks behind a saloon car at booth level when reversing out? There’s less chance of it happening when reversing in.

Why do many workplaces insist on reverse parking?

How will this be enforced btw? Are the spaces designed in such a way as to force people to reverse or will there be clampers enforcing it?

To be honest, I genuinely did not notice any difference in the sizes of the parking spaces - and I was in a regular spot.

unkel

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119796604#Comment_119796604

Even if the sizes of the spaces are the same, you can fit fewer spaces in total if you have angled parking.

Cienciano

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119785845#Comment_119785845

That's just part of the "enhanced customer experience"

unkel

Was there myself last night - Thursday night shops open late - from around 17:30 until 19:30. Parked across the road at the retail park, which would normally have been near empty at that day / time, but was nearly full. Steady stream of people walking between there and Liffey Valley. From the car I saw the middle car park in LV was was no more than a quarter full (would have been near full before charges) and the cinema car park which was more than half full (would have been choc a bloc before charges)

daheff

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119796443#Comment_119796443

its also that most drivers tend to drive right up behind you and don't give you space to reverse into a tight spot like those in LV.

Dial Hard

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119803280#Comment_119803280

Resulting in pay parking being introduced in the retail park in short order, no doubt.

Hotblack Desiato

Really wouldn't be bothered walking across, going to LV was enough of a chore as it was, will just avoid the place as much as possible...

unkel

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119803340#Comment_119803340

I was eating in Cosmo with great views over the car park and I saw exactly what you mention. Big blockages of people trying to go into spaces, needing several turns to get in. Not their fault. Cars are a lot bigger than they were a few decades ago and the new layout doesn't help. The angled parking was so much superior.

Iompair

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119796443#Comment_119796443

I was always told it was safer to reverse park. Personal experience and first few google results seem to back this up, do you have anything to refer me too?

unkel

It takes 5-10 times as long to reverse park than to slide it straight into an angled space. All that extra time is a waste of life, so lots of lives are lost that way. Simple!

I genuinely can't remember - were the parking spaces angled on the Penneys side as well? I know they were at the main entrance ad at M&S, and I definitely prefer angled parking.

In fairness to my memory, I always try for one of the disability parking spaces first (I am a badge holder) I but don't always get one - yet I can't remember the other regular spaces on that side being angled?

In saying all that, I drive a micra so the size of space is not usually an issue.

miamee

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119803562#Comment_119803562

"The angled parking was so much superior" - when used correctly. I have seen people insisting on reversing into those spots - not many but more than once. It defeats the purpose of the angled spaces but I can see how they were a good idea when used correctly.

iamwhoiam

I parked near M and S yesterday and it was surprisingly empty for a Thursday lunchtime . We were 90 minutes in the centre and I was very surprised at the lack of customers at that time . We were in M and S and very few there and Pennys was actually civil too

Hotblack Desiato

In fairness one would have to be a complete moron to reverse into an angled space.

The problem with backing into parking spaces (angled or not) is your boot is on the inside, someone in the space behind you can park close enough to make opening it difficult, and getting large shopping bags in is awkward especially given how much narrower the spaces are now.

average_runner

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119803626#Comment_119803626

Reverse parking is pretty simple, even cars have cameras now to make it easier!!!

Car park was pretty empty again on Wednesday evening.

Everytime I was there it was quiet, and shops said footfall was well down.

I say at weekends its busy

veryangryman

This is cunt1sh profit taking, little more. They are outside of the city limits, even the M50 and they're charging for a car park that is rarely if ever full.

As for those thinking that the non drivers were subsidising them before, please let me know what shops have dropped their prices to now satisfy you?

I really hope they lose a shed-ton of business over this. Yet another reason not to go near to Dublin, now extending county-wide.

Wheety

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119803778#Comment_119803778

In my experience it was more that people would drive through an empty space to park facing out. But with the angled spaces and one way systems, it means they're facing the wrong way for driving out.

I preferred the angled spaces too. Very safe as well because you have a good view at the traffic lane as you're pulling out.

Furze99

Reverse parking should be the norm, it was the norm when I learnt to drive. People who can't or won't reverse park are either lazy, have no patience or are incompetent imho. Yes there can be the small inconvenience of access to the boot in poorly designed car parks but it's far safer to later drive forward out of a parking space when your windows are misting up.

Many building sites demand reverse parking for site workers, standard safety stuff.

I hate being forced to drive forward into on street parking spaces by the local authority permitting angled parking. No business doing this and should be prosecuted under road safety legislation - thou shalt not reverse from a lesser road onto a mainer one. It is possible to reverse into angled spaces but unnecessarily awkward.

As for paying for parking, what's new.

Furze99

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119804201#Comment_119804201

Eh... do you travel outside Dublin? Local towns here have lots of paid parking.

unkel

Yeah ok, I think we're done now with the "what way to park is best" discussion. Everybody has had their say.

sapper

Chevron spaces were much better! You could just drive in. Now yes with grid spaces reversing in is safer but slower

Cienciano

The angled spaces were so much better. So much quicker for people to get in and out of

Larbre34

Breezed into the Blanchardstown Centre's free multi-storey car park earlier this evening, for a bit of a date night. Spent 38 quid in Eddie Rocket's and 25 quid at the Cinema.

63 quid I would normally have spent in Liffey Valley cos I like the cinema, but no more.

Not just because of the charge for the Liffey Valley carpark, but because of the mess they've made of it, the terrible policy in relation to staff and their refusal to take cash.

I hear its worryingly quiet over there these last few weeks....

Dr_Colossus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119806483#Comment_119806483

Just in case you haven't seen but Vue cinema in Liffey Valley is paying for parking. On entry to cinema when showing your ticket they ask if you drove and then give you a little card with a QR code to scan at the pay stations after. Works very well plus they have a great offering on all standard cinema tickets for €6 online (€7 if paid on site).

I do agree they've made a mess of it, the angled parking as mentioned above was good and the general disregard for staff is all too typical. Never frequented Liffey Valley very often but it's not a place I would have expected a lot of park and ride users parking for the day while working in the city. If it was such a problem they could have implemented a max stay of 4hrs (covers cinema goers) and starting clamping anything longer like they do in places like the Merrion Centre in D4 beside Vincent's Hospital.

Blanchardstown is my nearest cinema but I haven't been to it in at least 5 years, always expensive and they don't even do a cheap Wed showing anymore. Pre covid used to prefer going all the way into Smithfield to the LightHouse cinema which was just a nicer experience all round. I did look up pricing of Odeon cinemas a couple of weeks ago just prior to Liffey Valley starting to charge for parking and for standard seating it was showing me €14.50 + 0.95 booking fee for a whopping €15.45 per ticket so that was the incentive for my first ever visit to Vue cinema in Liffey Valley despite it being a bit of a pain to get there.

Dodge

Latest update from missus at Liffey Valley today as she had to get something for our daughter

”As busy as ever. Why you asking about parking again?!”

So reckon that’s me out of this thread 😀

walterking

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119796250#Comment_119796250

I love the way people just believe anything someone spurts on a forum.

You'll find that this is rubbish.

Snake Plisken

Was over dropping someone off this morning and a small car was stopped at one of the barriers, which wouldn't lift, sat there for 5 minutes, obviously their license plate was dirty and couldn't be read. It was a nasty wet morning weatherwise so expect to see this be quite a regular occurrence over the next few months.

Also I think they have a cheek charging with roadworks still going on, it is a disaster trying to navigate the roads around the centre.

unkel

@Snake Plisken - fully agree. And it looks like there will be a permanent traffic light for going right at LV coming from the R113. That alone is a disaster that will unnecessarily delay people where there were no delays before as there was a roundabout.

Snake Plisken

Just down collecting family and retail carpark full and queue out onto the road at Tesco entrance at b&Q roundabout total disaster

Kurooi

Had first experience with the parking there today in operation.

A 2 minute queue to pay for the parking all the while being pushed around by people trying to enter or leave the shopping centre. To then come out and on exit see most people didn't pay, they're all fumbling with their cards and phones, holding the line of cars behind them.

Next time I won't be the idiot queueing twice. What an idiotic system. Spent €400 around the stores to then get heckled for spare change on the exit lol. Disgraceful. Pretty much every online retailer is doing free shipping, in Dublin I've to pay just to view the items. Wow.

iamwhoiam

A friend text me today “ Are they having a laugh in LV ? Asking people now to pay for the privilege of spending money in their shops . “

Larbre34

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119808627#Comment_119808627

Oh no. Who could possibly have foreseen this terrible consequence...?

Silly buggers.

Thanks for the cinema offer above, but really with all the knock-on delays, frustrations and costs, I'll be staying well clear for the foreseeable.

Cienciano

Wonder if Blanchardstown are rethinking their idea of paid parking? Certainly delay it. LV fúcked up by not waiting till mid January to implement this. I'll be 100% avoiding the place for Christmas

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119808653#Comment_119808653

Who was asking you for spare change?!? 🤔 LV parking is pay online, by account, or by card only, no cash accepted?

So if you're ever asked again, don't fall for that.

WishUWereHere

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119803900#Comment_119803900

I have a customer in LV. I was with them yesterday, and asked what footfall is like since parking charges were introduced. They told me ‘depending on the day, footfall is down 50-60%’. And weekends, I asked, to which they replied definitely down but not as much.

i fear for that SC once the January sales are over, as (imho) so much money has been invested in the infrastructure they won’t be able to reverse the charges.

I really feel for the staff there.

unkel

Not sure, two of my teenage daughters work there (in clothing retail) and they reported this week was busy. I'd say for the likes of M&S who got a lot of people just hopping in to do a quick grocery shop, it will be bad. Cinema is as busy as it ever was (they validate parking ticket for free)

Not sure how it will be for the takeaways, 15 minutes free parking is tight, they could have done 30 minutes. Personally I wouldn't want to be paying €15 for a takeaway that used to cost €12.50

erlichbachman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119807864#Comment_119807864

Don't be a pussy man, stand your ground

lordleitrim

I'd imagine for every person complaining about it in this forum, there are another 20000 shoppers continuing to go about their normal business at LV like they do at Dundrum, Pavillions, Jervis, Ilac, Stephen's Green etc where paid parking is the norm. No one likes having to pay for parking but locals saying they'll now travel to Blanch (where they either pay 2 tolls and/or endure an extra half an hour each way of a congested M50 or back roads) just to save 2.50 (what about the extra fuel/toll/time etc) seems self defeating and cutting off your nose to spite your face.

However I don't like how LV has pitched the reasoning for paid parking. "To discourage non users of the shopping centre from using the carpark." How big an issue was that truly? I'd imagine very few people drive to LV to park and use facilities outside the SC? Any of the adjacent businesses/hotel/car dealerships etc there all have customer parking.

Dodge

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119822937#Comment_119822937

So arguing about parking that may or may not even effect me isn’t the pussy move?

Dial Hard

I can't understand what it is about the introduction of paid parking in LV in particular that has people so incensed. As has been mentioned, paid parking is the norm in plenty of other shopping centres and never attracted the ire that this has. I also don't get the "poor staff" argument - the vast, vast, vast majority of working people in this country incur a cost in getting themselves to work. I work in the city centre, it costs me €4 a day to get the bus in and out or if I want to drive, it'll cost me the guts of €30 a day for parking.

Yeah, the reasons given for bringing it in are cynical at best - just admit that you needed another revenue stream - and the whole pay-on-exit thing is absolutely nonsensical but I still can't quite get my head around how affronted people are by the whole thing. It's bizarre.

veryangryman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119804616#Comment_119804616

Liffey Valley isn't in a town centre. It is at a Motorway junction.

Out of town retail parks nationwide have free parking. Examples: Mahon Point in Cork, M1 retail park in Drogheda.

Why do people defend profit-taking under the guise of it being to "encourage public transport".

iamwhoiam

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119823366#Comment_119823366

Because they quite simply are asking you to pay for the privilege of spending money in their shops

Dial Hard

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119824698#Comment_119824698

As is the model in absolutely loads of other places. It's not as this is some earth-shattering bucking of a trend, like.

Larbre34

Its not that simple at all and yes of course most other Dublin shopping centres do charge to park, like the Square and the Pavilions.

LV's problem is that they have been there 30 years or so and never done it before and long time customers probably feel like they spend more than enough there to justify free parking on site.

Also, they have sought to introduce these charges in the teeth of the biggest consumer belt-tightening period in 14 odd years. They have also been publicised treating the staff on site pretty ruthlessly in the same move and people don't like to see poorly paid workers be the butt of any policy. Thats before we even mention that the IT system to manage parking, is completely crap.

No doubt LV would protest and trot out all the planning conditions they are subject to and the sustainability obligations and the proposed improvements of bus services to the area etc, but ordinary punters don't give two shytes about any of that guff and irrespective of all the public relations bulldust, all people know is that they are being charged for something that they were not been charged for before and if they have a choice they will go somewhere else, even if that somewhere else charged to park all along.

However LVs biggest issue right now, apart from the poor publicity, is its nearest competition, Blanchardstown, remains free. And no amount of green credentials will change the damage to them from all the above.

It'll be very interesting to see how long their tenants put up with the losses they are seeing....