Warning over '˜obstructive parking' on Taylor's Avenue

It follows complaints from pedestrians in the Taylor’s Avenue area over the large numbers of vehicles parked on pavements during matches at Belfast Loughshore Hotel Arena.

Among the concerns raised was that those with prams or mobility scooters are often forced to move onto the road.

The issue has long been a source of “frustration” for Carrick Rangers Football Club, according to secretary, David Hilditch.

“We have asked people to park appropriately and stewards are ignored and told they have no jurisdiction outside the ground,” he added.

“We have warned people and actually asked police to take action.

“It’s totally unacceptable.”

The Department for Infrastructure’s TransportNI takes responsibility for the enforcement of most parking restrictions in Northern Ireland.

Traffic attendants, employed through Transport NI’s contractor NSL Services Group, are expected to issue tickets to vehicles which are detected as illegally parked.

However, apart from urban clearways, there is “no general ban on pavement parking”, according to government services website nidirect.

Where there are no parking restrictions marked on the road, parking tickets cannot be issued to vehicles on the pavement.

However, if a problem of obstruction arises as a result of vehicles parked on a footway, the matter can be dealt with by police.

A PSNI spokesperson said: “Police would advise motorists to refrain from illegal parking.

“Obstructive parking means that other road users and pedestrians can be faced with unnecessary dangers, creating a greater risk of harm or injury to them and other road users.

“If police notice any illegal parking in the area, advice and warnings will be given to offenders to help promote community safety and reduce the number of possible casualties on our roads. If the problem persists, the use of fixed penalty notices and possible prosecution will be considered.”

Inspector Martin Ruddy added: “I would ask anyone who believes that a car is obstructively parked to report it to Carrickfergus Police Station on the non-emergency number 101.”

Traffic cones are placed on Taylor’s Avenue when there is a large attendance anticipated at a home football game, the spokesperson added.