After nearly four long years, the car park at St Patrick’s Trian in Armagh has re-opened to the public.
The city centre car park on Upper English Street was shuttered for maintenance in early 2020 and has been out of bounds ever since. That is, until Monday (January 29).
The car park is attached to St Patrick’s Trian and the top level provides access to the rear of the Market Place Theatre.
A spokesperson for Armagh, Banbridge & Craigavon Borough Council has since confirmed the car park is now open and a barrier system is in operation to count cars coming in and out.
Currently, it is operating free of charge, with 58 spaces and eight blue-badge spaces available.
The car park will be open from 9:30am to 6:30pm from Monday to Saturday and closed on Sundays. It will remain open for theatre performance nights until 11:30pm.
The news was welcomed by Armagh DUP councillor Scott Armstrong, who said he was glad to see movement on an issue that was a “long time in the works”.
He continued: “I have liaised with Council officials in the previous months about the state of play at the Trian and have been made aware that council are working through funding bids to get the whole centre reopened.
“The reopening of the car park will undoubtedly boost trading for the businesses and encourage more footfall in our city, which is always welcome. With the ongoing renovations of buildings on Upper English Street, the reopening of the Trian Car Park and the already completed projects for our shop fronts through the Armagh Townscape Heritage; Armagh City Centre is starting to look healthier.
“It is my hope that council will be introducing a paper to the relevant committee in the next couple of months on how we can best utilise this car park.”
Sinn Féin councillor, Sarah Duffy, said she was “delighted” to see the car park re-open.
“The closure of this car park has been an issue for Armagh city centre users and local traders for a number of years now, so this is a very welcome development,” she said.
“A big thank you to our council officers who have worked hard to make this possible.”
