Call to make temporary Ballina parking measure permanent

A Ballina councillor has called for a temporary parking measure in the town to be made permanent.

Double yellow lines were removed on Market Square at the front of Heffernan’s Butchers and Michelle’s Bakery in order to accommodate works taking place across the street.

Cllr Annie May Reape told last week's meeting of the municipal district that the additional parking at this location has been of great benefit to the businesses along this street and asked that the double yellow lines not be reinstated.

“The businesses are hoping to keep this parking arrangement and the yellow lines should not be put back in. In fairness, they lost a lot of parking spaces for the Market Square developments,” she said.

Cllr Reape welcomed the response from area engineer Orla Bourke who said it may be a possibility to keep the new arrangement.

“Subject to there being enough space, it should be possible,” said Ms Bourke.

Cllr John O’Hara also called for traders setting up in the Penneys Car Park to instead set up at the new Market Square plaza. Head of the district Declan Turnbull said he would look into this.

“I won’t say yes or no as the issue is to do with access to Market Square. We could move the bollards but we have to consider the weight of vans and trucks.