‘More age-friendly parking spaces needed’ - McCourt

Age-friendly parking spaces in Mullingar should be made more visible and expanded across the town, members of the Mullingar Kinnegad Municipal District said at their May meeting.

Cllr Julie McCourt raised concerns over the visibility of the existing age-friendly parking bay outside the main post office on Dominick Street, saying the current colouring did not stand out enough and was leading to misuse of the space.

In a motion before the council, she called on the district to review and approve a change in colour for the bays, suggesting bright yellow to improve visibility and safety.

Speaking at the meeting, Cllr McCourt said she recently witnessed a driver using the bay who was “clearly not of that age group that should be using it”.

“The colour isn’t visible enough, in my opinion,” she said, adding that more prominent markings would make the spaces easier to identify.

Council officials confirmed that age-friendly parking had already been installed on Dominick Street and said alternative colours would now be examined.

District engineer Pat Kavanagh said additional age-friendly and disabled parking bays were planned in the town, including near the library.

He explained, however, that age-friendly bays are not formally recognised under the national traffic signs manual, meaning there is flexibility on colours and markings.

“I’ll talk to the road marking contractor and see if we can get them to be brighter,” he said.

The mayor Cllr Mick Dollard urged greater enforcement around the designated spaces, particularly outside Mullingar post office.

“A lot of elderly and disabled people use Mullingar post office to collect their pensions,” he said.

“On a number of occasions you would see individuals parking there who shouldn’t be parking there, and people like that should be made an example of.”

Cllr Emily Wallace, who previously raised the issue, said she was disappointed there was still only one age-friendly parking bay in the town centre. Cllr Wallace said purple was

the colour associated with Age Friendly Ireland and suggested it should be used more prominently.

“When you have a colour and people then see an able-bodied young person hopping in, it differentiates the spaces,” she said. “None of us is getting any younger, but for those who do need it, let’s make it simple for them to use.”

Cllr Wallace also asked that the district consult with Westmeath County Council’s age-friendly programme representatives when deciding future locations for the spaces.

Lidl canal path

At the same meeting, councillors discussed the need for a new pedestrian walkway linking the canal area to Patrick Street beside Alan Bardon Motors and opposite Lidl in Mullingar.

Cllr McCourt said a “natural walkway” had already formed due to repeated foot traffic, with pedestrians and parents with buggies cutting across the grass rather than using the longer formal route nearby.

“Over the winter months it’s going to be nothing but mucky,” she said, adding that the route could become a slip and trip hazard. Officials said they would consider constructing a surfaced footpath at the location as part of future works estimates.

Mr Kavanagh told councillors he had inspected the site and agreed that a more permanent path was needed. “We have proper paths down from the canal, but people are using that corner,” he said. “We have a tender out for a new playground in that location, so we will have a look at maybe putting a more permanent walkway along that corner.”