A Dundalk councillor has said she was subjected to abuse on two separate occasions after challenging motorists who were parked in disabled parking bays in the town.
Speaking at the September meeting of Dundalk Municipal District, Independent councillor Maeve Yore said the incidents occurred during the summer when she saw vehicles in designated disabled spaces.
“I was abused when I highlighted to two different people in two different areas of Dundalk that they were parked in disabled bays,” Cllr Yore told the meeting.
According to Cllr Yore, the motorist’s complaint was that the council “are doing nothing to get loading bays” for vehicles making deliveries in the town.
She queried if the council had a list of all the loading bays in town, and asked what the terms and conditions are for these bays.
“Are all the businesses in town aware of where the loading bays are?”
In addition, she asked if there was an audit of disabled bays in the town centre and commercial areas, and in residential areas.
She queried if bays installed outside homes are removed if the resident passes away.
Cllr. Ciaran Fisher said the misuse of disabled parking bays is ongoing, noting that cars are often using them when an ordinary space is free just metres away.
He added that addressing the issue would “unfortunately come down to enforcement.”
Cllr. Fisher called for the council to look at the number of loading bays, especially in areas where there are a number of businesses taking in regular deliveries.
He also highlighted the continuous parking problems in a number of town centre areas, with cars mounting footpaths and parking on double yellow lines.
Querying when the pay parking review is expected, he asked if the council could look at expanding the pay parking areas.
“People are constantly breaking the law by parking up on footpaths.”
He also suggested a one-way system being introduced on Chapel Street as traffic is “very tight” for cars trying to park.
A council spokesman said requests for disabled parking bays are dealt with on an individual basis. He said he wasn’t aware of a policy to remove parking bays after a resident has died.
He said he would look into procedures around loading bays being provided in the town and report back.
The spokesman added that the council are aware of incidents of misuse of disabled bays, but agreed that enforcement was needed.
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