Residents in Mayo town up in arms over loss of long-standing parking
A call has been made on Mayo County Council to urgently meet with residents of Newport Road, Castlebar, following strong objections to the removal of long-standing residential parking.
The residents have outlined their deep concerns over the issue in a submission.
It stated: "This decision, made without consultation, has caused significant disruption to daily life, access to essential services, and negatively impacted overall community well-being.
"The key issues include:
• Loss of residential/service parking that has been longstanding.
• Restricted access for home help, public health nurses, people with mobility issues, childcare providers and tradespeople.
• Isolation of residents due to lack of visitor parking.
• Safety hazards caused by vehicles parked directly at front doors.
• Mental health impacts due to stress and anxiety caused by the sudden change and tone of correspondence.
"Residents have requested that the following concerns be brought to the council’s attention:
• Traffic congestion during school hours is making it increasingly difficult for residents to safely enter or exit the area.
• Speeding vehicles on the road; especially evening and late night weekend hours are creating serious safety risks for pedestrians, especially children, people with mobility issues and older residents.
• Crossing the road to access the laneway at the Garryduff junction to Lough Lannagh has become unsafe, and residents request that a pedestrian crossing be considered at this location.
"We request that enforcement be paused immediately.
"The status quo must remain in place until a viable alternative is provided and meaningful engagement with the community has taken place.
"The current situation is unsustainable and requires urgent attention and collaboration.
Councillor Harry Barrett said the decision has caused major disruption and distress for people living in the area.
He stated: “Residents feel they’ve been ignored. Many have lived here for decades and have always parked outside their homes.
"Overnight, that’s been taken away, making life difficult for families, older residents, and those who rely on carers or tradespeople.”
He is now calling for a proper consultation to explore solutions, including time-sharing between residents who need to park and those using the bicycle lane.
He also wants a traffic management plan put in place to deal with congestion, speeding, and pedestrian safety as a matter of urgency.
“The council needs to sit down with residents and find a fair, practical way forward that works for everyone,” he added.
Councillor Ger Deere has also expressed his support for the residents, stating it's wrong their lives should be disrupted in this way without any prior discussions.