Merrion Square South is most lucrative street for clampers

One of the most affluent business districts in Dublin, Merrion Square South, is the most lucrative street in the city for clampers. It has generated €48,000 for Dublin City Council so far this year, according to new figures.

Of the 10 most clamped streets in the city, eight are on the south side, according to figures obtained from the council under the Freedom of Information Act. Synge Street in Dublin 8 generated €41,920 up to the end of August. North Great Georges Street, which was the most clamped street in 2003, is currently in third position at €40,560.

While the two most frequently clamped northside streets, North Great Georges Street and Parnell Square North (€31,760), are both in the city centre, most of the southside clamping takes place in upmarket residential areas, representing a change from 2003 when most clamping was in the city centre.

Two streets in Ranelagh, the main street and Cullenswood Park, generated €38,800 and €31,680 respectively, while Synge Street and Grantham Street in Dublin 8 and Burlington Road in Dublin 4 also made the top 10. The two most clamped south city centre streets were D'Olier Street, in fourth position at €39,200, and Clarendon Street in 10th at €31,520.

The residential streets were targeted by the clampers, Control Plus, because of the high demand for on-street parking, said Mr Paul McCarthy, traffic enforcement officer with the council.

"Control Plus marry enforcement with the areas of higher demand. If they receive complaints from residents concerning illegal parking, they will look at the enforcement on that road."

Ranelagh was a particularly busy parking area, he said, because of the numbers of pubs and restaurants. Synge Street and Grantham Street residents experienced problems with motorists using the south inner city. The high incidence of clamping on Burlington Road was because business people were parking illegally there and not because of a new enforcement of clamping tour buses using the Burlington Hotel.

He said driver behaviour had been improving since clamping was introduced in 1998. However, the total clamping revenue increased last year from €527,120 in 2002 to €599,520 in 2003.