Fights and ‘intimidation’ over parking in Laois housing estate

Residents of a local housing estate are embroiled in arguments and even intimidation over scarce parking spaces, according to a county councillor.

Cllr Aisling Moran highlighted the issue at a council meeting, as she called for numbered parking spaces to be introduced at Heather Hill Square in Graiguecullen.

“There is intimidation and arguments and fighting going on over these spaces. There needs to be one designated space per house,” she told the September meeting of Graiguecullen-Portarlington Municipal District.

She added: “This needs to be done immediately in Heather Hill Square, as it is causing undue stress to many residents and it should be part of planning conditions going forward.” Cllr Moran said the current situation is “a free for all”, with some people taking up three spaces and others left with nowhere to park outside their homes.

Cllr Vivienne Phelan agreed, noting that the issue is a huge problem at weekends.

Cllr Moran proposed that Laois County Council allocate one numbered parking space per house, with the remainder to be allocated as communal and to provide a disabled parking bay in the estate.

Senior engineer Philip McVeigh replied that the request for a disabled parking spot and numbering of parking spaces could be considered ‘subject to funding being made available’.

However, district cathaoirleach cllr Aidan Mullins said it would hardly be expensive to paint a few numbers on parking spaces.

Cllr Moran declared: “If you give me a can of paint, I’ll do it myself.”