Isn't it ironic - the way cars park at the driving test centre?
If you need to explain ‘ironic’, feel free to cite from the complaint made by Cllr Andrew Duncan at the June meeting of the Municipal District of Mullingar Kinnegad.
The Fine Gael man wants action over an illegal parking blackspot in town. And where is it? Outside the driving test centre at Bellview.
“This is something that I’ve brought up numerous times and I’m getting a little bit fed-up of it,” Cllr Duncan told the meeting, revealing that at times there can be as many as eight or 12 cars “abandoned” on the road there.
The response from the district to Cllr Duncan’s request that the problem be resolved stated that while the installation of yellow lines had been considered, the concern was that the “dislodged” cars would then park in front of nearby residents’ houses, which would not be a preferable outcome.
“The Road Safety Authority were contacted and have confirmed they will request users and staff of the test centre not to park along the roads,” the reply concluded.
Cllr Duncan pointed out that there is a car park at the centre, and said that was where staff and clients should be parking.
“I can’t get my head around that answer from the RSA: I mean there is ample parking in the yard,” he said, adding that he accepted the point that laying down double yellow lines would lead to displacement to the fronts of houses.
Cllr Duncan said the district needs to “instruct” the RSA to open the car park
Fully behind Cllr Duncan was Cllr Aoife Davitt, who said that the issue is affecting residents of the many estates that have to pass those cars to get to their homes.
Also in support was Cllr Mick Dollard, who revealed he lives 100m from that location – however, he said, he wasn’t opposed to the notion of yellow lines, and doubted that if yellow lines were painted that motorists would go further in to Bellview Heights to park.
Cllr Ken Glynn also spoke in support of Cllr Duncan’s claims and said the RSA needs to “step up” and deal with the issue.