Bride-to-be fears her ‘wedding guests will get clamped’ under new parking plan for Dublin housing estate
A bride-to-be has said she is “stressed” about plans to introduce clamping in her south Dublin housing estate, fearing wedding guests could be clamped while getting ready at her home.
Lorna McEvoy (30), who is due to get married next year, said the proposed measures in Parkleigh, Seven Mills, Dublin 22, could leave residents unable to accommodate visitors, with “not enough” visitor parking spaces across the entire development.
Ms McEvoy and her partner moved into the estate in December 2024 and “paid more” for a house with two parking spaces, anticipating it would be an issue.
Earlier this month, Parkleigh residents protested over plans by developer Cairn Homes and the Owners’ Management Company (OMC), Cushman & Wakefield, to introduce clamping.
Residents said they were initially informed of the plans through a circular and were given no say in the move.
The circular, seen by the Irish Independent, said a “large volume” of complaints had been received about vehicles parking in non-designated areas, including roads, kerbs and footpaths.
The circular also said the parking issue posed health and safety risks and could affect access for emergency vehicles.
It added that the OMC had raised the matter with South Dublin County Council and it had also been flagged by Cairn Homes.
As a result, the OMC and Cairn Homes decided to approach private clamping firm APCOA to introduce “parking management measures” in areas where vehicles were being parked on roads, footpaths and kerbs, including across the Parkleigh estate.
The anti-clamping protest at Parkleigh earlier this month
These areas are currently owned by the developer and are in the process of being transferred to South Dublin County Council.
At present, Ms McEvoy said residents often ask visitors and tradespeople to park alongside the road where there are no double yellow lines.
“Nobody [wants] dangerous parking or people parking illegally, but it’s literally like when you’re driving in a housing estate in Dublin, and there’s cars parked alongside the road. That’s what they’re going to be clamping,” she said.
“I’m getting married next year. I’m actually getting ready in the house, so I’m getting dressed there.
“We’re going to have a hairdresser, we’re going to have a make-up artist, we’re going to have loads of cars, and then they’re all going to potentially be clamped for parking alongside the road.
“I don’t think clamping is going to do any good for our estate because people are just going to turn nasty. There’s so many cars. People aren’t going to tolerate that in the estate.”
Earlier this year, residents in the Seven Mills development raised concerns over inadequate parking facilities, with neighbours reporting cars being keyed due to disputes over parking spaces.
Ms McEvoy said the lack of parking spaces was already putting some families in a difficult position, particularly those with children and more than one car.
“One of my neighbours has a small child and two cars at one spot, and they park alongside the road. They have no choice. They only have one space,” she said.
“What are they going to do? They’re going to get clamped every day of the week, or they’re going to have to sell their car? They clearly need their car.”
Residents subsequently launched an online petition opposing the move, which has attracted around 500 signatures.
It opposed the introduction of a “blanket clamping regime”, saying “there are more proportionate ways of addressing parking concerns within Parkleigh”.
Sinn Féin councillor William Carey said: “I don’t think clamping should be introduced in such a manner.
“There has to be some understanding of the circumstances that they [the residents] all find themselves in; that there is a lack of parking spaces in the area.”
A statement from Cairn Homes said that “any measures or plans being considered are centred on good parking management and practice, for the safety and benefit of residents”.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Cushman & Wakefield, acting agent for the Board of the Owners’ Management Company, said the board had identified the need for a “proactive and responsible approach to good parking practices”.
They said the board had recently held an information session for OMC members to hear their views.
“The Board is reflecting on all the engagements and are working to ensure that any measures now being considered are thoroughly focused on having a well-managed development with good parking practices, for the benefit of residents,” the spokesperson added.