'Incredible' tiny sign eight foot high for Portlaoise paid parking
Four new parking spaces have been created in Portlaoise, but one little problem with them has being highlighted by a Leinster Express / Laois Live reader.
The parking spaces are in Jessop Court behind the Main Street, next to the Hinds Square retail area.
They had all been private spaces for residents but Laois County Council gave into requests and has made four of the spaces public, during working hours, Monday to Friday, 9am to 4.30pm.
Huge painted letters on the tarmac give a clear indication of those hours, but drivers would be hard pressed to learn that they need to buy a ticket.
A tiny sign has been erected on an 8 foot pole, which displays the letter LC and two small logos, one for parkingtag.ie and one for Laois County Council.
There is no ticket machine in the square.
Local man Brian Rusk volunteers at the LSPCA charity shop in Hinds Square.
"I open it up in the mornings. I parked in one of the marked bays, then I saw the warden taking a picture of my car.
"I asked him where are you supposed to pay, and when is a machine going in. He said 'they're not going to pay for a machine for four parking spaces'.
"There is a sign there that is about 6 inches long and 2 inches deep, eight foot up. I said that means nothing to anybody, how are they supposed to pay, and the warden said 'with an App'.
"I asked what about older people who don't have smartphones or up to date technology. They'll be trying to figure out how to download an app and pay with a credit card. It's absolutely mental.
"It's incredible. Someone at a desk decided that a sign eight foot in the air that isn't visible to anybody is the way to tell them how to park.
"I think they are more looking for €40 fines and if they get enough they might be able to pay for that machine. It makes no sense.
"I'm six foot tall and this thing was two foot above me, I never saw it until he pointed it out. How is a little old lady 5 foot tall to see it? Common sense isn't common any more," Mr Rusk said.
He made another point.
"Drivers get 45 minutes free around town but there is nothing to say that either. They went to the trouble of painting on the ground. Even if you put a sign at eye level," Mr Rusk suggested.
A comment has been requested from Laois County Council.