Liffey valley to start charging for parking

appledrop

They have lost me as a customer and I was there at least once a fortnight if not weekly, haven't been there in 3 mths.

As I said before issue for me wasn't paid parking at such but absolutely shambles they have made of place since we'll before summer with the roadworks to introduce these changes. And people here reporting still not finished!

Then they go and introduce a ridiculous system where people can pay at barrier, an absolute receipe for disaster.

No thanks I want hassle free shopping.

Name Changed

I'm glad to have another reason to go somewhere else to be honest. It's a kip.

lau1247

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119823270#Comment_119823270

It is nothing but money grabbing opportunity, if they truly want to fish out the non user, they can simply have the first 1 or 2 hours free and charge a fee thereafter.

unkel

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119826957#Comment_119826957

Well said, that's it in a nutshell really.

Capt'n Midnight

They are getting people used to paying for parking before they improve pubic transport.

If they really wanted to move people to public transport they would have got that sorted out first.

Cienciano

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119826365#Comment_119826365

While I'm annoyed at the charges and haven't been since, I don't know why you think it's a kip. It's pretty good shopping centre and the cinema end is great. In what way is it a kip?

On a side note, was in the retail park today wouldn't be surprised if that's where the staff park now as loads of cars there

Wheety

Went to pick up a Dominos at Tesco on Saturday around 5pm. Car park in there was busier than I've seen it before. I had to park outside the covered area. Saw people going back to their cars with Lifestyle Sports and Boots bags. Wonder what Tesco will do about it. Will cost them now to set up barriers if they want to stop it.

facehugger99

Went to Liffey Valley last Sunday for the Black Panther movie followed by food and shopping. The parking charge came to €7.50 but was covered by the QR code they give you on entry to the cinema. Very easy to validate at one of the many machines.

If you're planning to stay there for a good while it is actually cheaper to buy a cinema ticket than to pay the parking charge - you don't even need to go to the film.

There was a small protest by some of the shopping staff at one stage outside the main entrance, chanting "no way, we won't pay". They really need to come up with a better chant because you come off sounding like an entitled freeloader chanting that.

The car park and entrance roads were as busy as ever when we were leaving so despite the on-thread moaning, there are plenty of customers still using the shopping center.

Gusser09

What a cluster f**k.

I was up there last week to drop somone to the cinema. No set down at all. 15 mins to get in and out. The Car Park and the cinema side was full but no signage to let motorists. Just a guy with a few cones blocking the entrance to it which resulted in confusion and carnage. Not only was this a bad idea but it has been extremely poorly executed.

unkel

I can imagine employing the lads with the cones (there must be a dozen of them at any one time) costs more than the parking fees generate. Ridiculous implementation.

Hotblack Desiato

Are the roadworks still on the go as well?

tayto lover

I don't shop anywhere I have to pay.

lordleitrim

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119891167#Comment_119891167

You know a shop that gives you things for free?? Please tell!!😜😜

walterking

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119889654#Comment_119889654

Lets assume at 50% capacity. That's 1750 cars @ €2 (excl vat) - €3500 per hour. Even allowing average stay of 90 min, that's €2,333

12 lads @ €17 an hour (incl employee prsi + holiday) = €204 per hour

Net income per hour €2129

I also believe most retailers are in favour and I know of one that says it has improved business by a noticeable amount

unkel

Thanks @walterking - goes to show that simple assumptions, like the one I made, are often baseless and just wrong.

Cakes and Ale

Anyone else notice when going from Argos/B&Q side back towards the centre the time at the new set of traffic lights is painfully short? Took almost 15 minutes at 11 in the morning to get through the junction. Surely they couldn't keep these lights timed like this...

Snake Plisken

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119895553#Comment_119895553

Stupid idea getting rid of the roundabout, utter shíte whoever planned this whole road layout.

Also with regards Tesco they could put barriers up and you get your ticket validated with every shop, depends on what knock on effect people parking there makes.

Also been over a few time to drop off and collect family and one night on M&S side going in the camera misread my number plate still got out ok but for the more dirty number plates I can see issues. Going in another day saw a queue of cars going in behind an old lady who had driven right up to the barriers so camera didn't read the number plate. No staff around to help her either.

Should really have gone with the old school take a ticket insert a ticket when you leave system like most other carparks.

In my opinion the owners have destroyed what used to be a decent shopping centre.

emo72

The middle car park is still closed?

Darwin

I was in there this morning, paid for my parking at the machine outside M&S. At that point it asked my to confirm my reg (from two options) which I did. My car reg was clean and nothing out of the ordinary about it. At the exit, the barrier would not lift, it was asking me to pay again. I had to dial for help and it took another 2 minutes before they let me out, in the meantime a queue of annoyed people behind me. I really wish they would use a ticket system, I pity elderly people they seem to be totally confused by it all.

Cienciano

Was there today, god help us with the traffic lights. Hopefully it'll be a lot better when other lanes are open

Wheety

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119898645#Comment_119898645

We're nearly in December now. It'll be crazy. It's normally mad busy but with the delays from the roadworks/new layouts and the car park there will be a lot of frustrated people.

Hotblack Desiato

Avoid the place at all costs!

veryangryman

We must all recall that the centre car park is never never full. Even if a few had used the place to commute from via the bus, it was clearly not a big enough problem to justify charging to park.

Thankfully those who defend riding people for their money are few in number but IMO it should be zero. Charging at an out of town shopping centre outside the M50 is daft and short-sighted.

Hotblack Desiato

I must have been imagining things then 3 or 4 years ago in December when I saw approach roads lined with parked cars, even grass verges full of parked cars. People driving around for ages looking for a space. Pre-pandemic it was normally chaos there in December which is why it's bizarre they have allowed the roadworks to drag on for so long. I don't think paid parking (at least, not the way it's being done with crap machines and no free period) is the answer though.

gmisk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119898645#Comment_119898645

I have been in a few times (less than normal since charge came in) constantly an issue at barriers. Tap for payment not working, number plate not recognised. Marks side car park definitely quieter than it was imo.

Princess Calla

Random question.

What way are the roadworks around the centre like now?

I've to go to the hermitage tmw lunch time. I'll be coming in from M50 , so N4 exit 2 ....am I likely to hit extra "unexpected" traffic on the first roundabout....I think I'll be in a separate lane for turning right anyway....but I'm thinking tailbacks .

It's my first time going to the hermitage and I really don't like surprises when driving.

Seth Brundle

Whatever mess is happening in LV won't affect you heading from M50 to the Hermitage.

Princess Calla

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119931293#Comment_119931293

Great thank you.

I haven't been to Liffey valley since the summer ... early Sunday morning...and coming off exit 1 was less than fun......I didn't know about the upgrade.

Just worried the fonthill roundabout...I think it'd the fonthill roundabout....would have a similar story.

Seth Brundle

The exit from the N4 down to LV and the Hermitage is exit 2 - see here with exit 1 being the junction with the M50.

The small roundabout down the slip road (where you'll be driving under the N4 to get to the Hermitage) should be fairly clear but with Christmas traffic starting to increase, you might have a little bit of queueing to get off the N4 onto the slip road although if there is, I reckon it will be quick moving.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119826337#Comment_119826337

…this is the same reason I’ve heard from about 4 different independent people- whilst the queues there at lunchtime on the Lucan road were nearly right down to the on ramp of the m50 indicate that a lot of people are still going there, the Christmas period is the exception- come mid- January, let’s see how busy it is -some I know won’t go there now on principle, and some because it’s just chaotic.

Id rarely go there myself thank god.

WishUWereHere

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119931473#Comment_119931473

I was in the retail park yesterday, coming from the Maynooth direction on the N4.

The traffic works and cones on the road in front of where the car showrooms are are basically gone. But so has the roundabout where one turns right to the retail park. Long queue there to turn right.

The car park in the retail park was ( guess ) 66% full - for a Monday morning at +- 10h00? And I found it odd that the arming bays nearest the road was almost full.

I didn’t drive in front of the SC’s car parks so cannot comment. Only thing I will say is that my customer in the SC who told me the footfall ( on certain days ) is down 50-60%, hasn’t ordered anything from me since then which is 3-4 weeks ago whereas I would normally be with them at least once a week.

iamwhoiam

I used to order clothes from M and S and pick them up . Not anymore I am not paying €2.50 to fly in to pick up a package

unkel

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119934157#Comment_119934157

If you "fly in" you should be able to park, go into M&S, pick up your order and "fly out" all within 15 minutes, so no parking charge. Bit tight though if there is a queue, they really should have made that 30 minutes. Enough to do a quick M&S shop too or order a takeaway and wait for it. A lot of businesses will suffer from these parking charges.

...

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119934515#Comment_119934515

I agree, 15 minutes is too short.

Even 30 minutes would have been more realistic for the reasons you've given, or for doing a quick exchange or returns.

Senature

Received a glossy booklet incl vouchers specifically for Liffey Valley M&S through the letterbox yesterday.

Says it all really.

Larbre34

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119940191#Comment_119940191

To be fair, Marks have just completed a big revamp of the foodhall, so there is the promotion of that to be considered.

But nonetheless, you are correct, I have clients in properties in the wider LV complex and the story is of widespread anxiety within the main centre about footfall being gutted. All these shops make their profit in the last 6 weeks of the year and it just doesn't show any sign of picking up.

WishUWereHere

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119940217#Comment_119940217

That would concur with the feedback I’m getting too.

I fear for jobs there come mid January.

Snake Plisken

Idiots who run the centre should leave the barriers up for December and let the businesses make their money's. They can re-introduce the barriers in January and I would suggest put in a normal ticketing system rather then the disaster that is the current camera based system

lordleitrim

I can't believe the retailers are not going mental by now? If LV management won't listen to customers and employees, surely they'd listen to the retailers who pay the 6 figure annual rents?

emo72

i know someone working in one of the larger stores, and footfall is way down, and hours have been cut. what business brain came up with this idea?

WishUWereHere

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119940683#Comment_119940683

One word answers Your question: GREED

What I fear though is they ( the landlords ) have pumped so much money into this set-up, hard to see where this charade will end.

Larbre34

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119940705#Comment_119940705

Well they won't want it to end in receivership, so I imagine they are sweating.

Besides, most of these tenants are big hitting multiples. If they don't think they are being taken care of well enough by the bosses of LV, they can put the squeeze on Hines at other locations in Ireland and Britain.

emo72

Take away the charges till the new year. And make the first hour free. Otherwise they are in big trouble. M and S are after spending a fortune doing the place up. That end of the center was empty for ages after topshop and all related shops pulled out, only just recovering down there with Zara. Penneys could leave, I don't think they will take being put in a bad situation. I wonder how the new SC in Adamstown will hit it. Obviously it will have some affect on it.

WishUWereHere

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119940683#Comment_119940683

Wasn’t there rumours that Blanchardstown was also going down this route?

I would think after the debacle that is LV, it’s put the brakes on any thought into doing the same in Blanch.

facehugger99

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119940683#Comment_119940683

They're telling you porkies.

The entrance roads and car parks are wedged every day.

The parking charge will be going nowhere.

Dodge

Was there yesterday evening for the first time in a while. Very busy IMO

SteM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119943113#Comment_119943113

Both E72's statement and yours can be correct, one doesn't have to be a lie. Maybe footfall in that particular store is way down.

miamee

They'll never pull back on charges completely IMO but if they offered the first hour or two hours for free and charge after that I think it would go a good way towards drawing anyone back who has been avoiding the place for little shorter trips.

Dodge

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119943389#Comment_119943389

If footfall to the centre isn’t down, but is to one shop. Then parking isn’t the issue

SteM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119943894#Comment_119943894

Still doesn't mean someone was lying which is my point.