Mayo retailers encouraged to have age-friendly parking spaces

RETAILERS are being encouraged to put in place courtesy age-friendly parking spaces to accommodate customers who have mobility issues but don’t qualify for a disabled parking badge.

The matter was raised by Councillor Cyril Burke at a roads and transportation meeting when he wondered if there had been any progress since it was previously discussed.

Director or services Tom Gilligan said a letter was sent out 18 months ago to a lot of the larger retail organisations.

There was success in Castlebar where SuperValu put in two designated age-friendly spaces.

They are courtesy spaces, with different colours and signage, and he understood it has been fairly successful.

Traffic wardens cannot enforce parking in the spaces.

Mr. Gilligan said he would encourage other retailers to adopt a similar scheme.

Head of roads Paul Dolan reiterated that they are courtesy spaces.

There is legislation which covers disabled parking spaces but not for age-friendly or lower mobility parking.