Louth councillor warns ‘people are rocking up to Dealz for free parking’ on pedestrian only street

By Olivia Ryan, The Drogheda Independent

Calls for action on “abuse of a pedestrianised street” in Dundalk emerged at the December Municipal District.

Earl Street in the north Louth town has been closed to through traffic for over 30 years, with bollards in place to prevent vehicles gaining access.

But a number of Dundalk councillors have been raising concerns about the bollards not being in place to stop parking on what is a busy walkway.

Cllr. Maeve Yore told the council meeting: "There were nine cars parked there last Thursday, and thirteen vans and cars on the Friday before that.”

She asked when bollards would be replaced or repaired to prevent parking.

“Businesses are really fed up, it is impacting on them. There are people rocking to Dealz with their families, hopping out of the car to do their grocery shopping for the week, and off they go, with free parking and all.”

Patrick Callan, Senior Executive Engineer at Louth County Council, said a contractor looked at the bollards on Earl Street in the last week.

He told the meeting there was a lot of work involved in repairs, and that the council had been pricing replacements in case they were needed.