Fianna Fáil candidate for Central Ward, Josie Forde, is advocating for significant changes in the parking management policies at Westside Shopping Centre. In light of recent events where several vehicles, including those of local residents and members of visiting sports teams, were clamped, Ms Forde has voiced strong opposition to the current enforcement measures.
“The Westside Shopping Centre, closely situated to the Westside GAA pitches, Track and Soccer pitches, have benefited significantly from the traffic generated by the local range of sporting events and facilities down through the years but now want it both ways,” she said.
“The recent introduction of a €120 fee to release clamps is seen as excessively punitive, especially affecting parents and families who travel from various locations to support their children’s sports activities.
“The Westside sports complex is a cornerstone for community engagement and health. It is unreasonable to penalise individuals, particularly those contributing to the vitality and spirit of our community through sports,” stated Ms Forde. “The clamping policy, as it stands, is draconian and does not reflect the values of our community.”
Josie Forde is calling upon the management of the Westside Shopping Centre to urgently revisit their policy to better accommodate the needs of all patrons, especially those using the sports facilities. Furthermore, she is appealing to the Galway City Council to investigate and implement additional parking solutions to support the growing use of the adjacent sports fields, which host activities ranging from GAA and soccer to tennis and general fitness.
“We must ensure that our policies promote a supportive, rather than punitive environment for engaging in healthy and community-oriented activities,” added Ms Forde.
Ms Forde’s initiative reflects her commitment to fostering a supportive community infrastructure and ensuring that facilities serve the best interests of all Galway residents.
