Parking metres in Dublin malfunction

Parking metres in Dublin malfunctioned yesterday, leaving drivers in doubt about whether they would be clamped.

Street signage in the central zone - an area roughly between St Stephen's Green and Parnell Square - advised that motorists must pay for parking from 2p.m. to 6p.m.

However, machines in Westmoreland Street and along the quays refused to issue tickets after 4 p.m., advising motorists that parking was not available between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. - a situation which pertains on weekdays.

In Westmoreland Street a woman from Bray, Co Wicklow, went in search of an alternative parking machine even though the clamp operator Control Plus indicated that it would not be clamping in the street given the confusion.

The confusion follows an admission by Dublin City Council that it had got the rules wrong when it announced in December that during Operation Freeflow customers could park without charge in Westmoreland Street after 5 p.m.

Westmoreland Street is a clearway, tow-away zone after 4p.m. on weekdays, and anyone remaining there at that time would almost certainly have been removed.

The charge for reclaiming a car from the pound located near the Point Depot is €160, with additional charges of €35 per day after the first day. Charges for releasing clamps are €80.

Yesterday's difficulties followed anger on Saturday at the appearance of clearway signs on Middle Abbey Street on Friday night, which led to more than 20 vehicles being clamped there by mid-morning on Saturday. Traders were among those taken by surprise.

Dublin City Council said where one ticket machine was out of order, motorists were expected to use a nearby one. However where a few were out of order, Control Plus "would be reasonable".