Axe falls on parking spaces despite shopkeepers’ pleas

TOWN centre traders feel their views on Kerry County Council’s ‘Covid-19 mobility plan’ for Dingle were not fully taken into account by officials who have pushed ahead with implementing a plan that takes parking spaces off the streets.

The council plan aims to make more space for social distancing on the streets by pedestrianising Strand Street and removing 32 parking spaces between the Quay and the top of Green Street which, according to council officials, are the areas in Dingle with the most footfall and some of the narrowest footpaths.

Local traders seized the opportunity to object to the removal of parking spaces and to put forward suggestions for alternative safety measures, such as one-way footpaths, at an online meeting with council officials on Monday, June 8. At the meeting Kerry County Council Director of Services John Breen noted that “I’m getting very strong views about parking on Green Street” and he promised to “think again about the need to remove that parking.

However, the finished plan still takes away the parking spaces that traders said were vital to their businesses. Council officials say the loss of six on-street parking spaces on Green Street will be compensated for by 15-minute parking areas in “suitable locations” and the provision of over 20 parking spaces in a new car park to be built behind the presbytery. The groundwork for that car park started last week and, according to Mr Breen it will be available for use, with a temporary surface, “as soon as possible”.

Dingle Business Chamber representative John Sheehy said this week that everybody who took part in the online meeting with council officials thought it was very constructive and some very good suggestions were put forward by business owners. However, he added: “When these didn’t get included as modifications to the Covid-19 safety plan people were miffed about that.”

Cllr Breandán Fitzgerald told The Kerryman that the Covid-19 mobility plan was presented to a Corca Dhuibhne / Castleisland area council meeting last Wednesday but councillors didn’t get much input to the Covid-19 safety plan. “We set out our concerns and then the council basically proceeded with the ‘immediate emergency measures’ as they had already planned them,” he said.

However, he added that councillors were assured the Covid-19 safety will only be in place until around the end of August. “It’s vital that it should only be temporary,” he said.

Cllr Seamus Cosaí Mac Gearailt felt the plan should be given a chance. “It’s a shot at trying to do something to help businesses. It may or may not work, but all you can do is try… We have to give it a chance, you’re talking about real jobs here. We can always go back if it doesn’t work out,” he said.

Meanwhile, Strand Street residents have also expressed concerns about the pedestrianisation their street, which is also included in the plan. The council said the plan is to close the street to traffic from 11am to 9 pm daily “to take account of delivery requirements and also residents’ concerns re parking and potential late night anti social behaviour”.