Coalisland escapes parking tickets for fourth year in a row

by
Micheal McKenna
March 11, 2014

For the fourth year in a row, no parking tickets have been issued in Coalisland, Co Tyrone.

And responding to official figures just released, DUP MLA Maurice Morrow described Coalisland as a “privileged town” and claimed failure to enforce parking restrictions had led to “parking chaos”.

He said: “When one compares Coalisland with towns of similar size and smaller, where traffic wardens and enforcement is prioritised, one is left considering why exactly Coalisland is exempt from parking regulation, which is taken for granted in other towns.

A spokesperson for DRD Roads Service said previous attempts to provide additional waiting restrictions in Coalisland had been unacceptable to councillors, traders and members of the Coalisland Regeneration Partnership.

“Roads Service is currently working in partnership with this grouping to develop parking restrictions that would be acceptable to all members,” they said.

In Armagh, during the whole of 2013, a total of 3417 tickets were issued; in Portadown the number was 4,248 and in Lurgan 2,012.

Towns and villages in Co Armagh did not escape attention.

In Keady, 62 tickets were issued. Previously parking attendants had come under fire after issuing tickets to mourners attending a funeral in the town.

Markethill motorists flouting parking regulations were slapped with a total of 85 tickets, Richhill 10 and Tandragee 15.

Newry had the third highest number of tickets issued at 8,973, coming in behind Belfast at 27,547 and Derry/L’derry on 9,288.

Crossmaglen also escaped the watchful eye of traffic attendants when it came to erroneous parking last year. Moy had 72 and other local villages, including Loughgall, Poyntzpass, Killylea and Middletown, were also among those to escape unnoticed.

A parking ticket or Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) is £90, but is reduced to £45 if paid within 14 days.

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