EXTRA parking spaces are on the way for Bandon town centre according to the council.

Local authority officials said they are close to signing an agreement with a private landowner to provide extra car park spaces in Bandon town centre.

Senior executive officer Noreen O’Mahony confirmed at a recent meeting of Bandon Kinsale Municipal District that they are close to signing an agreement with a private landowner.

She was replying to a query from Cllr Ann Bambury (SD) who had sought an update on the parking strategy for the town.

‘We are engaging with a private landowner and we are closed to having an agreement with them. We will look at improving parking in the town,’ said Ms O’Mahony.

Cllr Bambury also asked if there was an opportunity to change the byelaws for parking at the Ballymodan car park because currently there is no time limit at this free car parking space. Ms O’Mahony said they are also looking into this proposal.

Signs were recently erected at the Ballymodan car park advising it is for short-term parking while parking on South Main Street was removed. Trialling a two-hour limit had been previously suggested.

Meanwhile, councillors praised new surfacing and line marking on Convent Hill as well as the new streetscape on South Main Street. Cllr Gillian Coughlan (FF) said the recent transformation of the town centre is the ‘first chapter in the future of Bandon.’