Parking problems 'strangling' Cushendall

The group’s secretary, Noreen Delargy, in a letter to Moyle Council, said the lack of parking facilities in the village has been “detrimental to the potential tourism revenue for the village”.

She went on to explain a more serious problem could arise if there was ever an emergency situation and the village was “grid locked”, as it could result in “loss of life” if the emergency services could not get through.

Mrs Delargy mentioned “two excellent sites for a car park” on Mill Street and requested that this problem be solved as a matter of urgency.

Cushendall Sinn Fein councillor Oliver McMullan raised the matter at a meeting of Moyle Council.

He said the town is “strangled” with traffic and the situation is not helped with inadequate parking.

He said the tourism trade is suffering and he said they may never have another opportunity like they have now to acquire suitable sites.

Cllr McMullan said getting adequate carparking would “improve tourism in the Glens and further afield for years to come”.

And he said the emergency services find it a “nightmare” to get through the town.

Cllr Randal McDonnell (Independent) agreed there is a need for a better traffic flow and parking but said one of the problems is that people “are buying bigger vehicles and are parking in stupid ways”.

Cllr Orla Black (SDLP) said the parking issue in Cushendall has been discussed for decades and she said something is needed, especially a coach parking area.

Moyle Council Chief Executive Richard Lewis said he had to caution that it was a road issue and not a Council issue but Cllr McMullan said he was approaching it as a regeneration matter.

Cllr McMullan said he wanted the Council to discuss the matter and help move it on to another level.

Ulster Unionist councillor Willie Graham said better carparking is also badly needed in Bushmills.