Loading bay plea for business hit with repeated fines - Donegal Daily

A long-established Letterkenny business is being hit with parking fines due to a lack of loading bays on Lower Main Street.The difficulties facing County Dry Cl...

A long-established Letterkenny business is being hit with parking fines due to a lack of loading bays on Lower Main Street.

The difficulties facing County Dry Cleaners were highlighted to the council this week by Sinn Féin Councillor Gerry McMonagle, who called for leniency from parking wardens for businesses that need to stop outside their premises to load and unload goods.

The issue was raised at Tuesday's Letterkenny-Milford Municipal District meeting.

Cllr McMonagle pointed out that there are no dedicated loading bays between the Market Square and Lower Main Street.

This leaves businesses like the County Dry Cleaners, a business established 48 years ago, with no designated space to load and unload their van without risking a parking fine.

Cllr McMonagle outlined how the laundry staff are hard-working people who serve hospitals, businesses and customers throughout the town.

He said that staff should not be expected to park across the road and carry large bundles of clean linen back to their vehicles when there is space directly outside the business.

"They have to pull up outside their business to load and unload their van, sometimes that takes time," he explained.

Major power outage in Letterkenny expected to last until midnight

Despite speaking to a traffic warden about the situation, the business is continuing to receive parking tickets, he said.

In his motion, he called on the council's Roads Section to provide a loading bay on Lower Main Street and asked that parking wardens refrain from issuing tickets to businesses that need to park temporarily outside their premises.

Donegal County Council confirmed that an assessment of suitable locations could be carried out.

"It should be noted that the provision of every loading bay will reduce the number of available parking spaces by two," a spokesperson said.

100% Redress Party Councillor Tómas Seán Devine, who seconded the motion, also suggested relocating the bus stop on Oliver Plunkett Road further down the street, towards the social welfare offices.