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Newry BID has launched an awareness campaign to ensure shoppers know of the one-hour grace period for on-street parking in Newry city centre. The campaign, titled "More time in Newry", will be promoted through billboards, press and radio advertising, window graphics and leaflets distributed to businesses by the Newry BID team.
The one-hour grace period applies to on-street parking spaces within Newry's Controlled Parking Zone, allowing drivers up to a further hour to return to their vehicle once their paid parking period expires before a Penalty Charge Notice is issued. The minimum on-street parking tariff in Newry is 20p for up to 15 minutes, meaning that once this period expires, drivers can then benefit from the additional hour.
The measure was introduced on a pilot basis in November 2025, and Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins recently confirmed it would be made permanent.
Newry BID Manager Eamonn Connolly said the organisation had lobbied for the measure on behalf of local businesses. "This is a really positive measure for Newry and one which Newry BID has actively lobbied for on behalf of our businesses. We want to thank Minister Liz Kimmins and her team for listening to the business community; introducing the pilot; and now making the one-hour grace period permanent," Mr Connolly said. "Our focus now is making sure people know about it and, importantly, understand how it works. You can pay just 20p for 15 minutes of on-street parking and, when that paid period expires, you then have up to a further hour to return to your vehicle before a Penalty Charge Notice is issued. The cost is slighter higher using the app, with the administrative charge, but the grace period still applies."
He said the measure gave people greater flexibility when visiting the city. "This gives people greater flexibility when they come into Newry. Whether you are shopping, meeting for coffee, having lunch or doing business in the city, you don't have the same pressure to rush back to your car as soon as your paid parking period ends. Over the coming weeks, people will see our 'More time in Newry' campaign right throughout the city. We will be using billboards, press/radio advertising, window graphics and leaflets; while our BID team will work directly with businesses to help get the message out to their customers. We want as many people as possible to know about the grace period and make use of it."
Newry BID has welcomed the Minister's decision to make the measure permanent and believes the added flexibility will help encourage people to spend more time in the city centre in support of local businesses. Motorists must still pay the appropriate parking tariff in the normal way, with the grace period beginning only once their paid parking period has expired.
