Councillors want parking spaces for elderly in Mullingar

Special designated parking spaces for the elderly in Mullingar are being sought by Cllr Bill Collentine, whose call was unanimously endorsed by members of the Municipal District of Mullingar Kinnegad at their December meeting.

Cllr Collentine said it is being done in other counties and with more people driving into their 70s and 80s, it is essential in Mullingar.

Cllr Collentine remarked that the town has lots of parking spaces and “I think a few spaces wouldn’t go astray if we donated them towards elderly people”.

“We’re all going to get old some day,” he said. He suggested that such a space is needed at the Post Office in Austin Friars Street. He cited Kilkenny as an example of where it is working well.

Cllr Emily Wallace said she had made a similar request 18 months to two years ago and that not only Kilkenny, but Fingal, Greystones and numerous other areas were doing it. She contended that not having age friendly parking spaces is contrary to the council’s age friendly strategy.

Cllr Wallace said the users would buy their parking ticket as normal, but they would have an age sticker which would entitle them to park in the wider, more easily accessed elderly spaces.

She suggested that a survey be carried out to gauge public reaction, saying “we aren’t looking to invest large amounts of money, we just want to make it easier for older people to do their business.”

Cllr Denis Leonard asked if other councils are doing it, why can’t Westmeath? He suggested that it could be done on a trial basis at the County Buildings and that a parent and child space be provided there too. See how it operates and then expand it if necessary, he said.

Cllr Ken Glynn felt that such elderly spaces should be provided at key service points around the town at the post offices, the council, banks and such areas. “If Kilkenny is doing it, it can be done and it should be explored,” he stated.

Deirdre O’Reilly, director of services, assured the members that the council would see what other counties were doing and how they were doing it. She suggested that it could be done in the non-public car parks and at some of the bigger supermarkets. “We will look into it,” she said.