KILDARE: Residents are 'afraid to leave home in case they lose their parking space'
A group of residents are afraid to leave their homes in Sallins - because they fear they won’t have a place to park when they return.
Sallins politician Carmel Kelly argued that they should be allowed to park there by being given permits by Kildare County Council.
Referring to Canal View and Church Avenue, Cllr Kelly said these are mainly older people and “we’re neglecting them.”
She told a Naas Municipal District meeting that some are “born and bred there” and without a parking space they have to go to an unlit car park and pay for it.”
Cllr Kelly added: “We’re penalising a small group of people who are afraid to leave the house by car because they can't find a place (to park) when they return.”
Cllr Fintan Brett said the parish might have a solution by providing parking places on a site near the church and car park.
Kildare County Council official Mark McLoughlin said the roads at Canal View and at Church Avenue, Sallins are public routes.
He added KCC cannot legally reserve parking on a public roadside exclusively for permit parking or resident parking only.
“While residents may qualify for resident’s parking permits, there is no provision to make parking spaces available exclusively for residents on a public road. The bye-laws limit where permits can be used but it would not be legal to limit members of the public utilising pay parking.”