Draft bye-laws to go public
AFTER a bid to have the parking charge in Drogheda reduced was defeated at a special meeting of Drogheda councillors last Wednesday night, it was unanimously agreed to put the new draft bye-laws on pay parking in the town on public display to allow for submissions from concerned locals.
The draft will now be open to public consultation for a period of four weeks, followed by two weeks for public submissions, before being returned for ratification.
This will mean another three months before pay parking is restored to Drogheda.
‘I felt the original byelaws were unsatisfactory - they were not unlawful – and I want to make sure we are all satisfied with the new bye-laws,’ said Louth County Council Chief Executive Joan Martin.
‘I was under no legal obligation to seek councillors approval, however, I want to be able to assure everyone that these new ones meet legal requirements, and we are all satisfied.’
Pay parking in the town has been suspended since last month, following a legal challenge from a member of the public.
The council found its Bye Laws in Drogheda are unenforceable and must be changed. Anyone who received a fine and not paid for it, will not be pursued, however Ms Martin said she she had ‘no plans’ to refund any retrospective parking tickets that had been issued and paid.
She said her priority was to deal with the problem and the financial implications from it ‘ as quickly as possible’.