An audit is to be carried out the adequacy of disabled parking spaces in Letterkenny.
A motion on the matter was taken to this month’s meeting of the Letterkenny Municipal District by Fine Gael Councillor Jimmy Kavanagh.
“I have been approached by three different people complaining about parking bays and we need an audit for the whole thing,” Councillor Kavanagh said.
Councillor Kavanagh noted issues with regard to a lack of lowered kerbs at several parking bays on Port Road, Pearse Road and Oldtown Road. Issues have also arisen with some lowered kerbs not being long enough to be of practical use.
“There are also no disabled parking on the right-hand side of the town,” Councillor Kavanagh said.
“Many of these issues would also sit well with the whole age-friendly town concept and would be helpful to young mothers with buggies too.”
The Council, in a response: “Roads are shortly to carry out an audit, following the erection of additional disabled parking sign, that are currently being erected.”
Councillor Kavanagh said there remained a problem with able bodied people parking in disabled bays and suggested that disabled spaces be painted blue and additional signage erected.
He said: “This is an ongoing problem. I saw a young couple, probably of 20 or 22, oparking in a disabled bay the other day on the Main Street, going into a café and sitting down with friends. This is happening a lot.”
Supporting the motion, Fianna Fáil Councillor Ciaran Brogan said: “If people had to get into a wheelchair and do the journey for a day, they would see the challenges.”
Councillor Brogan added: “We talk here about a lot of things that we can’t achieve because of funding. The cost is not big at all. If we adopt a positive attitude here, with regard to dropping kerbs and improving footpaths, we have done it in the past and done it well, this can be improved.”
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