Should be ‘tough luck next year’ for businesses blocking Kerry town's streets, councillor says

By Alastair Tibbs, The Kerryman

A Kerry councillor called for the complete audit of Killarney town to ensure the streets are accessible and disability friendly.

Councillor Marie Moloney said she was constantly ringing the Gardai about trucks parking on the side of the road, as well as witnessing sandwich boards and restaurant seating blocking pavements.

The town went through a transformation during Covid when outdoor seating was rapidly expanded, adding further obstacles to already busy streets.

Cllr Moloney feels it time the town caught up with those changes and regularised the rules around public spaces.

She referenced bins being left out on the streets, potted plants and sandwich boards outside businesses, cars on the pavement and drivers not adhering to designated parking zones.

“I love the ambiance that outdoor dinning gives to the town, but we have to be mindful of people with disabilities and mobility issues…its very, very difficult for some people to negotiate,” said Cllr Moloney.

“We see people abusing the 15-minute set down, we see people abusing the age friendly parking…I’m going to keep banging on about it until it’s made right.”

She asked that bye-laws, similar to those banning drinking in the streets, to be updated to aid the enforcement of such issues.

Councillor Marua Healy-Rae seconded the motion, agreeing that there was no uniformity in the town.

She emphasised that while businesses had their right to operate, this should not supersede the right of pedestrians to through the town safely.

“There’s not a uniform situation happening…if there’s businesses not keeping to their side of the street then it should be tough luck next year. It should be made clear,” she said.

“No one is questioning the right to run a business but everyone has the right to travel the street without being impeded regardless of their mobility.”

Killarney District Manager, Martin O’Donoghue, replied that bye-law work had recently been focused on regularising sauna business in Kerry.

Council officers also stated that the council regularly engages with Killarney Access Group about accessibility issues in the town.

They added that the town is benefitting from significant investment through the Urban Regeneration Development Fund and active travel scheme to ensure the town was accessible for people of all ages and abilities.