Parking on footpaths and cyclelanes has to stop says Mayo councillor

A MAYO councillor has called on fines to be issued to motorists who park on footpaths and cyclelanes around Castlebar.

Fine Gael councillor Donna Sheridan, Cathaoirleach of the Castlebar Municipal District called on An Garda Siochána and the traffic warden in Mayo County Council to take action against motorist who blocked footpaths and cyclelanes.

The Castlebar-based councillor told the month meeting of the Castlebar Municipal District that motorists parking on footpaths was one of her 'pet peeves' and it was dangerous to vulnerable people.

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“We have to put it out there that this has to stop,” she told the meeting. “We are coming into the fine weather and we cannot have people parking on cycle lanes and it has to stop. We can't have Active Travel in town and have our wheelchair users and most vulnerable users blocked and young cyclists having access to cycle lanes blocked. It is not right and not fair and has to stop.

“I am calling for action in relation to this by both the guards and the council. It is just completely unacceptable. Are we going to come back here when a child is killed by having to cycle out in front of a car parked on a footpath or cycle lane and then we take action?

“We have to send out a clear message…maybe some people will disagree with me and fair enough, but we have to start issuing fines and put pedestrian safety first. I am calling on the council and the guards to enforce this,” she said.

In response, Head of the Municipal District, David Mellett explained that the council have issued more tickets in relation to footpaths than they have in the past but added it has raised some 'interesting questions' particularly around the lack of parking spaces for some homes.

“We will flag with Active Travel teams that if they are putting in cycle lanes we will have to look at additional car parking areas for visitors to properties which don't have on street parking themselves. It is something we discuss with the Active Travel team,” he said.