DÚN LAOGHAIRE shopkeepers claim their businesses are suffering because of what they describe as “over-zealous” traffic policing in the seaside town.
Anne Joyce, the owner of Costello Flowers in Dún Laoghaire, strongly criticised Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council’s privately contracted traffic wardens, saying they “do not abide by the rules”.
“Shoppers no longer come to Dún Laoghaire and the ones who do are always frazzled and in a dash because they are on the meter.”
She was commenting following the appearance in court yesterday of a number of traders and residents from the south Dublin town on parking offences. Some of those at Dún Laoghaire District Court received fines and disqualifications from driving.
Ms Joyce said the charge of €2 per hour for parking was excessive and not on a par with other towns of similar size in Dublin and elsewhere.
She accused the county manager Owen Keegan of having a “bee in his bonnet” with regard to parking and clamping in the town, saying small businesses are suffering as a result of the parking policies.
Breasal Ó Caollai, owner of Costello Jewellers and secretary of Dún Laoghaire Business Association, said the association was looking for a maximum charge of €1 per hour.
He accused the traffic wardens of “terrorising the people” and over-policing the town, saying “the main topic among customers is the ‘dreadful’ parking charges”.
Mr Ó Caollai said the business association had started a campaign, distributing leaflets to customers, highlighting their rights with regard to pay and display.
He said customers and traffic wardens alike didn’t know the rules with regard to pay and display parking.
Kathrina Furlong, owner of local business Yours Personally, said the heavy policing of the area was very unfair.
She said a lot of businesses were being affected as a result of the paid parking and a fear of clamping in the area, adding “the concept of pay and display parking is right, but the one currently in operation is not user friendly”.
The council contracts APCOA, a company with operations in the UK, to carry out parking enforcement.
A spokesman for APCOA declined to comment yesterday, saying media queries about its operations should be directed to the council.
Therese Langan, senior executive officer in the local authority’s transportation department, defended its street parking charges, saying they “compare favourably to private car parks in Dún Laoghaire which charge €2.50 per hour”.
She said the parking charges in other major towns in the realm of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Co Council, such as Dundrum and Blackrock, were also €2 and no complaints were received.
Asked about the alleged aggressive tactics of the traffic wardens, as well as claims that such wardens were not abiding grace periods with regard to pay and display parking, Ms Langan replied: “We have entered into a new contract with the parking enforcement contractors, and we will be ensuring the grace periods are observed, and accurate tickets are issued”.