Roads Service scrap Communion tickets

There was uproar in Ballycastle last week as several vehicles received tickets and there was even a call at a District Policing Partnership meeting in the town for the police to see what they could do about the situation.

At the meeting, Ballycastle businessman James McCaughan said the amount of “bad will” created by the situation should not be under-estimated.

He said the situation “spoiled the day” for a lot of the people taking part.

Mr McCaughan said it should have been very clear what sort of event was happening at the time the tickets were being handed out and he claimed wardens has never been seen in that area of the town before.

Chief Inspector John Magill said traffic wardens are a different entity from the PSNI.

DPP Chairperson, Cllr Robert McIlroy (DUP), said: “Sometimes I think commonsense seems to have gone out of so many things”.

Mr Magill said any complaints should be raised with DRD and a call was made at the meeting for the police to do what they could to get the tickets revoked.

Another senior police officer at the meeting, Chief Superintendent Nigel Goddard, said police could write to whoever was responsible to let them know the strength of the feeling in the community and Mr McCaughan said that was very welcome.

Cllr McIlroy said it should be a “priority”.

And there have been developments.

A DRD spokesperson told the Times this week: “Roads Service instructed NSL Traffic Attendants to carry out a number of patrols on Moyle Road, Ballycastle, following several requests for enforcement on behalf of residents in relation to vehicles regularly parking in contravention of restrictions on the road.

“Prior to the enforcement patrols commencing on Moyle Road, NSL contacted the local schools and Chapel who took the opportunity to advise parents and parishioners of the need to observe the parking restrictions and park legally.

“NSL Traffic Attendants subsequently patrolled the location on 22 May 2010 on their routine enforcement visit to Ballycastle and 5 Penalty Charge Notices (PCN’s) were issued to vehicles parked in Bus Stops.

“Roads Service has now reviewed the PCNs issued and determined that the road markings in the lay-by area are not sufficiently clear to enable the public to know that it was a bus stop and parking was not permitted. The 4 PCNs issued in the lay-by have therefore been cancelled and the registered vehicle owners will be contacted and advised of the situation. “However, the bus stop on Moyle Road carriageway is clearly marked and the PCN issued at this location was therefore issued correctly and will not be cancelled.

“Bus stops are located where they are convenient to use and where the safety of passengers and other road users has been taken into account. Vehicles other than buses are not permitted to park in a marked out Bus Stop at any time and a Penalty Charge Notice will normally be issued for such a contravention.

“Roads Service urges drivers to observe all parking restrictions and park safely and legally.

“In all cases the owner of a vehicle in receipt of a PCN has the right to make a challenge if they believe it has been issued incorrectly. The challenge will be considered by Roads Service and if accepted the PCN will be cancelled," said the statement.

* In last week’s edition we incorrectly linked NCP with the ticket situation in Ballycastle. NCP wish to point out they were not involved as they are not responsible for on-street parking. We are happy to set the record straight.