Kilkenny housing estate receives clampdown on parking

Residents in St Fiacre’s Place have expressed deep concern following the addition of double yellow lines in parts of the Kilkenny City estate.

Works to implement new tarmac footpaths and road surfacing began last June, with one side of the street expected to be completed this year.

At present, double yellow lines are in place outside a number of homes on the Castle Road side of the estate as you enter via the Nuncio and Father Hayden Road entrances.

According to a Kilkenny County Council spokesperson, access at both ends will remain two-way but these sections of road are of ‘insufficient width’ and parking will be restricted to one side only.

There is also a proposal for a one-way clockwise circulatory system around the green area following completion of the works, the spokesperson added.

Drivers in the area have expressed their disappointment with what they say was a lack of consultation over the measures. One resident said they left for work one morning and returned to yellow lines outside their home later that evening.

“At least if they had spoken to us, we could have made our case. In the space of the day they put down the yellow lines, they inconvenienced 11 if not 12 people,” they said.

In a letter to residents, senior engineer with Kilkenny County Council Ian Gardner said that a ‘lenient approach’ will be shown for now and St Fiacre’s Place is not currently within the Kilkenny City parking by-laws area, and as such, ‘is not patrolled by council traffic wardens’.

However, he did warn that members of the Gardaí can issue fines for parking on double yellow lines but are ‘generally not active’ in housing estates.

The letter went on to state further by-laws are being examined across the city and “consideration will be given to including St Fiacre Place.”

If introduced, parking charges for the general public would be put in place, with resident parking permits being made available.

One local person claimed the parking situation is ‘not fair on residents who have family calling’.

Local Fianna Fáil councillor Andrew McGuinness, has spoken to a number of impacted homeowners and has called on the local engineer to ‘talk to residents’.

“Their concerns should be addressed as a matter of urgency,” he said.

“It’s important every resident gets the opportunity to have their opinion heard and to make sure their views and their concerns are addressed.”

Mr Gardner concluded his letter saying: “We have given a commitment to groups that represent people with mobility issues such as wheelchair users and those with visual impairment that we will hold a strong stance against those who park illegally on footpaths”, adding fines will be used as a deterrent.

Works on the other side of the estate, subject to funding, will take place in 2024.