Land to be taken over in Limerick in bid to stop dealing
At least a few times a week, said charity staff, access to the lane is blocked by those parking illegally
COUNCIL is to take over land behind a charity’s premises in a bid to stamp out illegal parking, drug taking and other forms of anti-social behaviour.
At Monday morning’s council meeting, members approved a measure which will see the area behind autism support charity Dochas’ offices at Parnell Street in the city centre come into the ownership of the local authority.
Volunteers with the charity have said each day in the lane, there is “open drug taking and dealing”, plus “urination” and “defecation”.
“Our staff no longer feel safe using the back of our building for entrance or exit,” one volunteer added in a submission to the council.
“The hygiene and sanitation situation in the lane is absolutely disgusting and dangerous,” another of the charity’s staff said.
At least a few times a week, said charity staff, access to the lane is blocked by those parking illegally.
City East councillor Sarah Kiely last year raised concerns over the issue.
“The back lane behind Dochas was a no man’s land for years. As a result, there has been a lot of anti-social behaviour, a lot of illegal parking, and once or twice when staff needed access, they couldn’t do this even though they asked people not to park there,” she said.
As a result of council taking over the area, it will be cleaned up, the road will be resurfaced, fresh lighting will be installed, and designated parking spots will be introduced.
It’ll mean people using the area will have to pay for a disc to park - and traffic wardens will have the power to fine motorists who continue to leave their vehicles illegally.
Cllr Kiely has welcomed the move, admitting she did not expect it to happen so quickly.
The upgrade to the area is expected to cost a total of €60,018.