Rathfriland Street fronts parking protest queue

RATHFRILAND Street still fronts the local queue to protest “harsh” parking enforcement, amid claims that three of its traders were recently ticketed in one week and warnings that Banbridge is in danger of becoming a ghost town.
By The Newsroom
Published 22nd Jun 2012, 09:00 BST

Councillor Jim McElroy voiced concern at the number of traffic wardens in Rathfriland Street.

The DUP’s Mr. McElroy said it was discouraging shoppers and, calling for a more flexible approach by traffic wardens, a number of his fellow councillors likewise expressed frustration at what they considered harsh implementation of parking enforcement that was having a negative effect on businesses in town

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Mr. McElroy revisited the issue at last week’s monthly council meeting, where he claimed one driver had been ticketed for exceeding the time limit by just three minutes.

With three businesses in town having closed that week, he said, enforcement was “far too severe on people coming to shop in town”.

He added, “Banbridge will be a ghost town in no time if something isn’t done to help businesses.”

DUP colleague, Councillor Junior McCrum, claimed that in Rathfriland Street that week alone three shop-owners had been ticketed for exceeding the limit by “a few minutes”, while parked outside their premises as they were tidying up.

Council chief-executive Liam Hannaway confirmed he had written to the department to raise councillors’ concerns.

Related topics:BanbridgeDUP