Callan calls for Drogheda parking to be on par with Dundalk

A local councillor is calling for the cost of parking in Drogheda to fall in line with the lower charge in Dundalk. Independent Cllr Kevin Callan says that if parking is €1 per hour in Dundalk, it needs to be same in Drogheda, not €1.20.

‘ The Bye Laws in Dundalk reduced pay parking in the town some years ago but this did not happen in Drogheda and on top of this Ardee decided to stop pay parking altogether and yet good old Drogheda is left with the highest charge,’ he told the Drogheda Independent.

“Before this new bye law is allowed come into effect I want Drogheda treated in equal terms with Dundalk”

He added that the rescheduled meeting of the Borough District of Drogheda to deal with Pay Parking Bye Laws which takes place next Wednesday April 4th, should be more than a rubber stamping exercise of approving the plans put forward by Council officials.

“I have a problem with this, and as a Councillor I’m going to do all I can to get it corrected and made fair. We are the elected members with powers in this area and we can’t just rubber stamp what is put in front of us”.

In January Cllr Callan was instrumental in getting the deeply unpopular Residents’ Pay Parking Permit removed. This was a yearly charge of €12 levied on people who live in pay parking areas so they could park outside their own homes. It also only applied to Drogheda.

Cllr Callan is also continuing with his call for a full investigation by the Department tasked with Local Government to see what happened and to establish who was responsible for the error which will cost the taxpayer in the region of €300,000 based on the charging having to be suspended.

Cllr Callan has been calling for copies of the draft Bye laws to be furnished to elected members from the March meeting of the Borough of Drogheda and again by email on the 20th of this month.