MIS-INFORMATION ABOUT CLAMPING DISTRACTING FROM REAL CONCERNS” SAYS COUNCIL CATHAOIRLEACH AND FINE GAEL ELECTION CANDIDATE

“The concerns among business and resident groups in Dun Laoghaire are understandable but mis-informed. It is not the Council’s intention to clamp once-off parking offenders or someone who overstays on a metered space. The Council’s only intention is to clamp the vehicles of habitual offenders (of which there are several hundred who have three or more unpaid parking tickets) who flagrantly ignore the Council’s pay and display rules, and actually block off spaces for others who want to visit and park in Dun Laoghaire for business or social reasons.”

“Of much more concern to residents and traders in the town should be the possibility of pay and display parking being introduced in the evening time up to 10pm and on Sundays. I am totally opposed to such an extension which will impact on visits to relatives and friends homes, attendance at church services on Sundays and simple family exercise activities like parking in the town to walk along the seafront. I have expressed this view forcefully to the Manager and this will not happen.”

“Effective parking control during working hours on weekdays, however, is good for business and for the local community in Dun Laoghaire, Glasthule, Blackrock and other areas ensuring turnover of available parking spaces. No one should have any time for those who persistently ignore the parking rules and clog up parking spaces in the centre of Dun Laoghaire without paying and limiting business for traders. Freeing up such spaces for visitors and shoppers coming to Dun Laoghaire is essential for business turnover in the town.”

“The Council proposal on clamping is extremely selective in that it only applies to one parking offence – persistent infringement. This is entirely different to most systems of clamping, such as that applied in Dublin City, where one is clamped for every type of parking offence including overstaying or parking on double yellow lines. In 2006 the non-payment of parking fines, 40% of the total, cost the Council €750,000 in lost revenue.