The issue of cars parking on footpaths and green areas across the city was raised at this week’s meeting of the Joint Policing Committee of Galway City Council when members said that the issue might lead to emergency vehicles being unable to gain access to areas.
Member Tommy Flaherty told the JPC meeting that the issue is very real in many housing estates, and he dismissed suggestions that people do it because of a lack of parking spaces.
Cllr Donal Lyons said that some discretion is needed with this because in some areas, there are no footpaths and people have to park on green areas.
“I agree with the sentiment of clamping down in illegal parkers, and especially in the city centre where streets are blocked, but when you apply that to the suburbs, you are into a different situation,” he said.
Chief Supt Gerry Roche said that the matter is one for the roads policing unit to examine.
“We already do a lot of towing away,” he said.
