‘We’re entitled to live in peace’

TALKS A meeting is to take place between residents and Mayo County Council to try and solve year-long car parking problems on MacHale Road, beside MacHale Park, in Castlebar. Pic: Sportsfile

Wheelchair-bound resident trapped in house for days by parked car

Oisín McGovern

A RESIDENT of MacHale Road is calling for parking permits to be introduced to stop people parking vehicles there for days.
The individual, who contacted The Mayo News, claimed that cars are parked regularly along the road for days and even weeks by people travelling to Dublin or abroad.
This comes after local representatives raised concerns about cars parking in front of driveways during match days at MacHale Park.
Mayo GAA have declined to comment on the issue, which the resident said is a problem all year along.
The resident accused Mayo GAA of giving ‘the two fingers’ to residents by refusing to address the issue.
Mayo County Council is to meet with residents to discuss the matter on Friday.
“I understand the council are dealing with it, to try and do something about it to put a stop to it, but it’s totally unfair,” the resident stated.
“We had an incident with a bloke whose wife is bed bound, he’s got a wheelchair accessible van. A bloke parked outside his house and the car was there for three or four days. The Gardaí were notified about it and the chap was above in Dublin. It’s a headache that we don’t need, and we don’t want. We’re entitled to live in peace.”

‘Abuse and filth’
The resident said he and another local were given ‘abuse and filth’ from drivers after they attempted to stop cars parking along the road during the Westport-Moycullen match.
They estimated that between 80 and 100 permits would be needed to ensure that only residents, relative and caregivers can park along the road.
“The GAA couldn’t care less about the residents of MacHale Road. They are not interested in talking or sitting down and discussing it,” he said.
“But we’re not going to stand for it anymore and we’re going to take matters into our own hands, and we have no choice but to do it.
“We have no choice but to protect the vulnerable people on the road. If there is an issue with an ambulance or something to get down on match day, they are not going to get down. It could be a difference between saving someone’s life and them dying.”
A spokesperson for Mayo County Council said that there was ‘very little’ that local authority could do to resolve the issue, which they said was a matter for An Garda SíochΡna.
“If we can be of assistance in finding a resolution to this matter, Mayo County Council would be happy to meet with Mayo GAA, and An Garda SíochΡna to agree a protocol on match days,” they added.