15.—(1) The Department may by order—
(a)designate parking places on public roads;
(b)specify the vehicles or classes of vehicles by which places so designated may be used; and
(c)impose charges for vehicles left in any parking place so designated.
(2) In determining what parking places are to be designated under paragraph (1), the Department shall consider both the interests of traffic and those of the owners and occupiers of adjoining property.
(3) In particular the Department shall have regard to—
(a)the need for maintaining the safe and free movement of traffic;
(b)the need for maintaining reasonable access to premises; and
(c)the extent to which off-street parking accommodation is available in the neighbourhood or the provision of such parking accommodation is likely to be encouraged there by the designation of parking places under this Article,
(4) An order under paragraph (1) may designate a parking place for use (either at all times or at times specified in the order)—
(a)only by such persons or vehicles as may be authorised for the purpose by a permit issued by the Department under paragraph (5); or
(b)both by such persons or vehicles with or without charge and, subject to specified conditions as to duration of parking or times at which parking is authorised, by such other persons or vehicles as may be specified in the order.
[F1(4A) An order under paragraph (1) may—
(a)designate a parking place or specify a public road by reference to a map prepared under Article 36 of the Traffic Management (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 which is not part of the order; and
(b)provide that the order shall have effect as if the map were part of the order.]
(5) The Department may issue permits for the purposes of paragraph (4) and, in the case of any particular parking place and any particular vehicle or class of vehicle, issue a permit for that vehicle or class of vehicle to be left in the parking place while the permit remains in force, either at all times or at times specified in the permit.
(6) The Department may make such charge in connection with the issue or use of permits under paragraph (S), of such amount and payable in such manner, as the Department may determine.
(7) Schedule 4 makes further provision relating to orders under this Article.