Money spent pursuing parking fines in court could be better spent upgrading Wexford car parks

By Simon Bourke, Wexford People

The money used to pursue parking fines in court could be better spent upgrading car parks in Co Wexford according to Labour councillor Biddy Walsh. Speaking at the July meeting of the Wexford Borough District, Cllr Walsh asked for an update on how many people chose not to pay their fines and, as a result, were taken to court.

“Are there a lot of people who do this? And, if so, is there a large cost in pursuing those cases through the courts?” she asked. “That money could be used to improve our public car parks, to enhance the markings, they’re not in a good way.

“The one in High Street is not marked out properly, it’s difficult to park there.”

While there was no financial estimates available to hand, a member of the council’s roads department said there was a “significant cost” associated with court cases.

“Some people choose to pay those fines and others don’t,” they said. “Parking enforcement isn’t all about bringing people to court, our end game is to make people park legally and correctly.”

On the issue of line marking in public car parks, the roads engineer said a full review of the parks in the county had been carried out and two from each town had been earmarked for resurfacing.

This immediately grabbed the attention of Cllr Robbie Staples who has been asking for resurfacing works to be carried out at the Riverbank Car Park since the start of the year.

And, much to his relief, he was informed that the Riverbank will be “prioritised” when the works commence.