‘IT’S TIME TO MAKE A STAND’
COUNCILLORS URGED TO LISTEN TO CONCERNS OF ‘HELL ON EARTH’ VICTIMS
RESIDENTS on the Windmill Road and Anneville Crescent have united in a bid to end their parking nightmare - once and for all.
As councillors begin the process of re-applying pay parking bye-laws in the town, those living in Drogheda’s most congested area are demanding swift action.
Residents in the area are invited to a meeting in the Windmill House this Tuesday, March 27, at 7.30pm.
They hope to organise an action group to fight for proper parking for residents.
Last week, locals carried out a survey of vehicles parked in the street and out of almost 100, only 10 belonged to people actually resident in the area.
A reserved area for local residents only is one proposal they are putting forward but need it enshrined in the new bye-laws.
Caroline Gormley has helped organise a petition, signed by the residents, that will be handed to the council.
‘It’s like hell on earth around here,’ she said. ‘We love this street and we have to make a stand.’
RESIDENTS on the Windmill Road (main picture) are organising a concerned residents association in a bid to sort out their parking nightmare - once and for all.
The situation has been described as ‘ hell on earth’ by local woman Caroline Gormley, who says the time has come for action.
When there was pay parking, the situation was difficult, but now it’s become unbearable!
‘We refuse to be treated like this anymore,’ Caroline stated. Last week, she visited a number of homes on the street with a petition to sort out the parking situation and was shocked by the stories she heard. ‘I was astounded by the anger. Individuals have said they’ve reported things but now we are going to unite on this. We can’t live like this.’
‘Now we are going to become organised and bring our case to the council. We should not have to live like this. Not only can we not park outside our homes - despite having a parking permit - but oil can’t be delivered as normal, taxis can’t pull in, bins can’t be put out, people can’t park when they come and visit,’ she stated.
Large trucks have again taken to using the road and some residents have reported cracks appearing on walls in their homes.
‘ The houses rattle and shake when they go by,’ she explained.
The residents feel there’s now a window to state their case before pay parking returns and they are looking at all their options.
That may even turn into street protests.
One suggestion is that one side of the Windmill Road is totally reserved for residents parking.
‘At one stage I saw an ambulance having to reverse down the street because it couldn’t get through,’ Caroline explained.
The fact that the street is cheaper to park on than the nearby hospital car park adds to the frustration.
At last week’s Let’s Talk Drogheda meeting in the Barbican, organised by Cllr Frank Godfrey, it was stated that residents have had no option but to use the car parks - sometimes at a cost of €12 - so they can go into their own homes!
‘I can’t use my front room as a bedroom because of the noise,’ Caroline contnued.
Cars have also been damaged and anti-social behaviour is apparent, leading to calls for CCTV on the street.
Frank Green (81) has lived on the street since 1966 and says he had to give up driving because of the stress of finding a place to park all the time.
‘We have one entrance to our homes and we have to take everything in and out that door. There should be no parking on one side of the street.’
When Irish Water closed off the street for pipe work, they put in slabs in the middle of the road and they are now loose and make a terrific noise and we wake up at night when a car hits it. The council say it’s Irish Water, Irish Water say it’s the council,’ Frank added.