New pay parking scheme to come before councillors

THE new pay parking scheme for Drogheda should be in place by early July, councillors heard at the monthly meeting of Louth County Council.

The new scheme has been drawn up after pay parking was suspended in the town following concerns over the legality of the bye laws which had been in place.

Councillors were told that the public consultation period closed last Friday and a report will be presented to the Drogheda Municipal District meeting in June. If it is passed by members the scheme will then come into play 30 days afterwards, in early July.

Councillors had earlier expressed concern that the Chief Executive hadn’t shared the legal opinion she had received.

Cllr Mark Dearey proposed that they seek a second legal opinion while Cllr Tommy Byrne said he would like to know where the legal opinion came from.

Chairman Cllr Colm Markey said it was the Chief Executive’s business where she gets legal opinion from.

Cllr Frank Godfrey complained that ‘ there is no accountability, no one brought to book because of the mistakes made’ despite the loss of revenue due to what he branded ‘ the pay parking fiasco’. He was concerned that the situation be remedied by the time the Fleadh takes place, noting that people are parking all over the place.

Chief Executive Ms Joan Martin commented that she hoped the concerns being addressed by councillors will lead to the timely passing of the bye-laws as quickly as possible.