Borough Businesses Hoping To Implement Valet Parking

Newtown businesses are hoping a plan to bring valet parking to the borough will be implemented in time for the holiday season. The concept was proposed to the Newtown Borough Council during a work session meeting Wednesday.

General Manager Erica Darragh and David Witchell of , told council that valet parking could alleviate a problematic parking situation on State Street.

Gerard O’Malley, the Borough Council liaison to the Long Term Parking Committee, said spaces at the Centre Avenue lot behind the Wine and Spirits Shoppe could be used to facilitate the valet parking.

Darragh said she has been in touch with a company willing to provide the valet service at no cost to the businesses or the borough. Patrons who wish to utilize the valet service would pay the valet company between $5 and $10 to park, she noted.

Darragh said that the borough would need to approve the use of three to four spaces on State Street to be used for cars to pull up to valet parking. The service is being proposed for Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

“We thought this could alleviate some of the parking issues,” Darragh said. “It’s going to help ease traffic in Newtown.”

Witchell said valet parking seems like a good way to accomplish the goal of freeing up parking on State Street while making the borough an inviting and convenient place for consumers to visit. Witchell said, ideally, valet parking should be implemented by the holiday season.

“We’ve all got nothing to loose in trying it but we’ve got everything to gain in trying it,” Witchell said.

Council members seemed supportive of the proposal, which will be discussed further at Tuesday’s regular Borough Council meeting. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the Chancellor Center.