Newry BID Launches Campaign to Highlight One-Hour Parking Grace Period

Newry BID has launched an awareness campaign to ensure shoppers benefit from the one-hour grace period for on-street parking in Newry city centre.

The campaign will run across the city through billboards, press/radio advertising and window graphics, supported by leaflets which will be 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. Once a driver’s paid parking period expires, they have up to a further hour to return to their vehicle before a Penalty Charge Notice is issued.

The minimum on-street parking tariff in Newry is 20p for up to 15 minutes. This means that once the 15-minute paid parking period expires, the driver can benefit from the grace period, giving them up to a further hour to return to their vehicle.

The measure was initially introduced on a pilot basis in November 2025 and Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins recently confirmed that it would be made permanent.

Eamonn Connolly, Newry BID Manager, said, “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.

“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.

“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 across 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 additional flexibility will help encourage people to spend more time in the city centre and support local businesses.

The one-hour grace period applies to on-street parking spaces within the Controlled Parking Zone. Motorists must still pay the appropriate parking tariff in the normal way, with the grace period beginning only when their paid parking period expires.

Photo caption: Pictured at the launch of the announcement of the permanent one hour grace period for on-street parking in Newry are: Rory McShane, Chairman, Newry BID, Infrastructure Minister, Liz Kimmins and Eamonn Connolly, Newry BID Manager.