McCourt raises parking enforcement questions as barrier works at Ladestown confirmed

An admission that policing bad parking in housing estates is not always feasible was made at the June meeting of the Mullingar-Kinnegad Municipal District, where Cllr Julie McCourt had queried enforcement levels.

The Sinn Féin woman formally asked if the district is enforcing observation of the restrictions on parking that double yellow lines mean.

The written response provided by officials stated that policing of illegal parking in housing estates outside the urban core is primarily a matter for An Garda Síochána as the roads policing authority.

However, district engineer Pat Kavanagh said the situation is more nuanced, and the council install double yellow lines in certain estates where specific issues arise.

He said enforcement can be challenging outside town centres, where traffic wardens are mainly based, and stressed that solutions are assessed on a case-by-case basis.

“We do install double yellow lines in some housing estates where there are issues,” he said.

“Our wardens generally operate in the urban core. Community wardens can advise people, but that’s really all they are doing.

“You could go around and put double yellow lines outside every house, but then it’s about enforcement.”

He added that the council regularly engage with gardaí on road safety matters, particularly where recurring parking issues are identified.

Cllr McCourt said she was referring to a specific location where vehicles were parking on a corner and mounting footpaths, creating sightline issues.

“It’s on a bend and the cars are parking up on the footpath,” she said.

“It’s a narrow enough road as it is, and there are sightline issues where cars are coming in.”

She said she would forward the details to the council for review in consultation with gardaí.

Ardleigh footpaths

At the same meeting, Cllr McCourt requested that the district inspect the footpaths in Ardleigh Vale: “Mature trees are causing the footpaths to lift in places,” she informed officials.

By way of reply, the district undertook to examine footpaths and trees in Ardleigh Vale.

Lough Ennell

Separately, Cllr McCourt also raised a request for updates on infrastructure works at Lough Ennell, seeking confirmation on plans to widen a safety barrier at Ladestown following a previous submission.

The District Office confirmed that the barrier at Ladestown, Lough Ennell, was to be widened within two weeks.