‘Pot of funding’ needed to close Kilkenny's disabled parking loophole - councillors

A ‘pot of funding’ is needed to ensure disabled parking bays in Kilkenny are not used by other motorists.

Legal technicalities with the governance of disabled parking bays is allowing non-badge holders park in the designated slots.

It has emerged that unless a disabled parking bay is both clearly marked and has a sign then vehicles without a disabled parking badge can not be penalised.

At the recent meeting of Callan Thomastown municipal district councillors, Cllr Peter ‘Chap’ Cleere raised the issue, saying a number of badge holders have spoken to him about the problem and called for new signs to be erected around the county.

As a result of this issue, motorists with genuine disabled parking badges are finding the slots already occupied.

In particular, Cllr Cleere highlighted, disabled badge holders were unable to park outside the church or some shops in Graignamanagh because the spaces were taken.
“I’ve been told that unless a disabled bay has a physical sign saying it’s for disabled parking only then anyone can park there, and there is no legal reinforcement,” Cllr Cleere told the meeting.

“I know there is a cost issue, but those spaces are there for a reason, all in locations where access is difficult,” Cllr Cleere said.
While the spaces are being used by “very few” people in this way, he said, if there were signs they could be prosecuted.

The issue also affects north and south Kilkenny, the councillor said, but there are signs in place in the city.

When it comes to disabled parking two things are needed, road markings and a sign, Area Engineer Declan Murphy clarified to the meeting. To put a ‘structure and shape’ on the issue a survey will have to be carried out of all designated disabled parking bays.

Some may be lost in this process but the ‘genuine’ ones will be kept, Mr Murphy said. Most law-abiding won’t park there, he said, but if this has raised its head as a problem it will have to be tackled, he added.

Cllr Cleere called for a ‘pot of funding’ to be made available for signage “to make sure those parking bays are respected.”