Plan to put brakes on Dún Laoghaire clamping

Businesses in Dún Laoghaire, south Dublin, are to mount a campaign against proposals to introduce clamping in the area.

County manager Owen Keegan, formerly director of traffic with Dublin City Council, is to introduce clamping for illegally-parked cars from February 5th.

The council has said it will apply the regime "moderately", only clamping those who already have three or more outstanding fines.

Pay and display parking was introduced by Dún Laoghaire/Rathdown County Council in 2003 to areas including the town, Blackrock, Monkstown and Dundrum.

A fine of €40 is incurred by motorists who break the regulations, increasing to €60 if not paid within 28 days. However, only 60 per cent of the fines are being paid.

It is understood that one resident, unhappy at the parking regime in her area, has incurred 76 parking tickets and has not paid any of them.

Delays in the local court have also lead to problems with enforcing the fines. Last year only four cases were heard.

At a meeting last week, the committee of Dún Laoghaire Business Association agreed to mount a campaign to resist the introduction of clamping.

Breasal Ó Caollaí, honorary secretary, said the business people, who were the ratepayers of the town, had always been assured that clamping would not happen.

"We have been looking for a traffic management plan for years; all they are giving us now is a way to chase customers out of town."

The group intends to seek a meeting with Mr Keegan on the issue, and will also meet with local politicians at the end of the month.

Labour councillor Jane Dillon Byrne and local PD representative Victor Boyhan have said parking fines were introduced to control parking and not to generate income.

They said councillors were promised clamping would not be introduced when they approved the bylaws originally

Mr Keegan said last night that the council has had problems getting enough court time to prosecute people.

"We can only reduce the burden on rates if we collect the money we are owed.

"I doubt if there is any member of the business community that would be happy to be paid only 60 per cent of what is due."

A projected figure of €3.5 million in income from the parking scheme is included in the council's budget for 2007.