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By Sean Moriarty

Elected members of Killarney Municipal District are to take a two-pronged approach to solving illegal parking issues in the town centre. Members are to seek a special meeting with the Council’s executive ahead of the next open meeting which is scheduled for early March.

They want clarity on the existing by-laws in the town regarding parking, and action to be taken against some motorists who Mayor Cllr Brendan Cronin says are “abusing the system”.

At last week’s KMD meeting, Cllr Donal Grady asked for an update on the by-laws connected with the ‘Safe Streets’ programme.

The programme was introduced to the town centre last summer in an effort to encourage more footfall in the town centre while at the same time providing for COVID-19 related social distancing measures.
The plan includes the full-time closure of Plunkett St to traffic, an issue that has divided the Council on many occasions. It also includes the provision of short-term “age friendly" parking spaces in town.

DEBATE

Mr Grady’s notice of motion led to a wider debate with some councillors stating that motorists are abusing the temporary parking arrangements as there is confusion over the application of by-laws in such parking bays.

“Current by-laws do not cover these arrangements and people know that. It is a slap in the face for progression,” said Cllr Niall Kelleher. “I urge the Council executive to bring the parking strategy before us as soon as possible as it is having an exceptional impact on the town of Killarney.”

In recent months, the Killarney Advertiser has covered several illegal and inconsiderate parking stories in the town centre. These include the prevention of a bus carrying people with special needs accessing the Christmas display at St Mary’s Cathedral and cars parked on double yellow lines in College Square which reduces access to the two “blue badge" parking zones directly across the street.

Last November Mayor Cronin, Gardai, Council officials and school principals met to discuss illegal parking on New Road at school time.

At the time the Council promised to increase the presence of the traffic warden in the area but, up to the Christmas break, the last time all of the schools in the area were open, there were still repeated incidents of cars parking on footpaths.

This prompted Cllr Michael Gleeson to bring the issue up at last Monday’s full meeting of Kerry County Council - where he demanded that the Council take action "as there has been considerable reconfiguration of streets, roads and footpaths in recent months, that the Council in conjunction with an action to prevent and punish the scourge of vehicles parking on footpaths".

"It's an illegal activity that demonstrates a gross disrespect for all pedestrians, very particularly for people with disability and for persons pushing prams and buggies,” he told the meeting.