From an hour to 60 minutes: confusion over town’ s parking sign

David Corbett: One point on all this. As we have no Assembly, there are no powers re parking etc. So, as we have no Assembly powers to legislate, then there are no powers to fine motorists who park for longer than an hour. You may be issued with a ticket, but do they actually have the power to fine you?

Ronnie Matthews: Well, if you only park your car for 60 minutes, you should be okay. Dereck McCready: David, parking enforcement is contracted to a private firm, so, yes, they do have the powers. Just because the Assembly isn’t sitting does not mean previous contracts are voided.

David Corbett: Dereck McCready, I know of three towns where parking is not enforced. As one parking attendant told me: “We can issue tickets, but they can’t be made to pay.” Coalisland in Co Tyrone has had no parking tickets issued for the last five years. So, before anyone says you have to pay, I would check to see if you actually do. Just because a private company issues you with a ticket doesn’t mean you have to pay it, because there may not be the legal right to enforce it.

Maureen Walker Ross: What is all this about? Unbelievable.

Garry Dent: The law says ‘one hour’, but the sign said ‘60 minutes’. Andre Nixon: What a waste of public money. With all the cutbacks in education and the NHS, surely this money could have been better spent?

Shirley Anderson: Laughing at this, but crying at the absolute waste of money. You couldn’t make this up.

Lynne Tweed: Money would’ve been better spent on repairs to roads in Bangor. Total waste.

Leonora Lennon: Roads need looking at — not signs.

Margaret Stewart: Unbelievable. What a waste of money. Disgraceful.

Jim Allen: Clearly spending the rest of the last budget before the new ones are allocated. Wasteful.

Stephen Barry: Could this get Sinn Fein and the DUP talking?

Mervyn Mills: Only in Bangor.