'This to me is pointless': Councillors say two hour parking anomaly is car-azy
A parking anomaly is preventing customers from availing of off-street parking for more than two hours in the same location, a local authority meeting has heard.
A parking anomaly, which is preventing Longford town customers from availing of off-street parking for more than two hours in the same location, was highlighted by two councillors at last week’s July local authority meeting.
Fianna Fáil Cllr Seamus Butler said he had become aware of the issue recently and he said the 'crazy' measure was ‘apparently being enforced’ as he described the adverse impact on motorists in the county town.
"It has been drawn to my attention in relation to parking in Longford on the two-hour off-street parking that you can't renew your ticket and put it on the vehicle without moving it, which seems crazy.
"The original intention of the two-hour was for on-street parking so that you had to move your vehicle and free up parking for other potential customers and people doing business in the town.
"And apparently this is now being enforced and people, who for example were going into a hairdresser's and they were getting a long procedure, I'm told but if it can take more than two hours it can take putting another ticket on the car to renew it.
"But they have to move the car and this to me is pointless."
Cllr Butler said he understood it was ‘apparently being enforced’ and he would be making the submissions in the byelaws review public consultation process.
Fine Gael Cllr Niall Gannon said he was approached about the same issue and if people such as those going to a hairdressers, are willing to pay for two hours and add another two hours they should have that opportunity.
Cllr Peggy Nolan said if people put another ticket on their car then it should be okay and she said she respected the council staff who are responsible for this area before asking them to look at it.
Director of Services Samantha Healy said the issue would be considered as part of the byelaws review public consultation.