TOUR buses regularly parking on footpaths very close to the busy traffic junction at Woodlawn Cross have been causing consternation and it is a great inconvenience for pedestrians who have to step on to the busy road to pass them, a meeting of Killarney Municipal District Council has heard.
Cllr Brendan Cronin said the footpaths need to be reserved for pedestrians, wheelchair access and families with buggies and the problem was at its worst in the busy summer months when the buses were frequently left on the pavement overnight, both on the Woodlawn Road itself and close to the junction on the Muckross Road.
Cllr Cronin and Cllr Niall Kelleher both provided photographs to council management to show the extent of the problem and the inconvenience caused.
Killarney Municipal District Engineer, John Ahern, said the buses are servicing accommodation businesses who should have their own parking facilities. Officials have spoken to and written to the businesses involved, gardai have also been alerted to the issue and they have been very responsive, the meeting heard.
Bollards have been erected in the area to prevent further infringements but that has irritated Cllr Niall O’Callaghan who complained: “Bollards are doing my head in. There are too many bollards being put up in this town”.
Cllr Niall Kelleher said it is important that Kerry County Council adopt a zero tolerance policy with regard to buses parking on footpaths.
Officials said that under the 1994 Road Traffic Act, it is an offence to do so and the local authority has powers of enforcement during daytime hours with gardaí taking up responsibility from 8.30pm. The situation will be closely monitored by both the council and gardaí.
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