COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

QUESTION NO. 10

QUESTION: Councillor B. Bonner

As the affected resident in St Brigid's Park has reported an upsurge in obstructive parking in the cul de sac to ask the Manager if any consideration been given to the painting of double yellow lines all around the cul de sac as requested by the residents association?

REPLY:

Following receipt of complaints, a Warning Notice was issued in mid February 2011 on the owners of a car sales business in relation to car washing on the public road at St Brigid’s Park in connection with the car sales business in contravention of Section 71 of the Roads Act, 1993. Further inspections carried out at that time did not indicate that this activity was continuing.

On 9 June 2011, arising from further complaints, officials from the Roads Department accompanied by two members of the Gardai from Clondalkin Garda Station carried out a further inspection.  A vehicle was parked at the end of the cul-de-sac and there was evidence that the car had been washed in connection with the adjoining car sales business.  A final notice was issued on the owner of this car sales business.  He was informed that should the practice continue the Council is empowered to seize and remove vehicles and goods etc from the public domain.  Follow up inspections did not show any evidence that this activity was continuing.

Recent complaints from an adjoining resident relate to the blocking of a driveway by a parked vehicle.  It should be noted that under Article 36(2)(g) of the Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking) Regulations, 1997 a vehicle shall not be parked in any place, position or manner that will result in the vehicle obstructing an entrance or an exit for vehicles to or from a premises, save with the consent of the occupier of such premises. Enforcement of this legislation is a matter for the Gardai.

St Brigid’s Park is a relatively narrow road being approximately 4.2 metres wide.  The parking of a car on this road could make it difficult for a fire-brigade, ambulance etc to pass.  The cul-de-sac at the end of this road is considered suitable for such parking as can be seen on the map accompanying this report.

The Council has carried out inspections at this location on 9 separate occasions at varying times of the day over the last 2 weeks, the most recent being on Monday 14^th May.  However, no vehicle was observed blocking the entrance in question. On one occasion during these visits a vehicle was parked in this cul-de-sac.  This vehicle was not impacting on access to or egress from this entrance.  As discussed at a recent Traffic Management Meeting, the Council is prepared to install double yellow lines outside the house in question and for a distance of 3.5 metres in an easterly direction towards the cul- de- sac together with a further section of similar lining on the opposite side of the road.  The 3.5 metre section of lining will have the effect of a double driveway.  These double yellow lines are shown on the map accompanying this report.  This will still leave approx 8metres of road space on one side in the cul-de-sac.