Plans aim to tackle car parking problem in estates near university

PLANS have been drawn up to tackle chronic car parking problems in housing estates adjacent to the University of Limerick in Castletroy.

Motorists are using estates to avoid parking charges and the danger of being clamped at the campus.

Bin lorries and emergency services have often found their way blocked due to the scale of the problem in one estate, College Court.

Limerick County Council proposed a new bylaw to introduce disc parking in College Court, which has 165 houses and 16 apartments.

Residents under the original plan were to get one free car park permit per house. But as more than 80% of the houses in the estate are rented out to students, many of whom have cars, landlord house owners voiced their opposition to the move.

A survey carried out by Limerick County Council found that cars are frequently parked in front lawns, double parked on the road, parked over water hydrants, and on footpaths.

Following further talks involving residents, landlords, council staff and local elected representatives, it is proposed, under a new revised plan, to give each house three car park permits.

Short term disc parking will be put in place for non-residents.

The proposed new parking arrangements will be advertised over the coming six weeks which will be followed by two weeks during which submissions can be made to the council.

Following the consultative process it is planned that the new arrangements will be enshrined in new parking bylaws.

Council director of services, Josephine Cotter Coughlan, said that a good balance had been found and she welcomed the fact that landlords in the estate were taking responsibility for the management of the estate.

She said: “Hopefully traffic management in the estate will improve.”

Cllr Eddie Wade said the parking problems in the area should be addressed by the board of governors at UL.

He said: “The university of Limerick is in the county and has always got excellent co-operation from Limerick County Council. We have always been very helpful and that shouldn’t be forgotten.”

Meanwhile, the new Limerick tunnel under the Shannon has traffic levels of about 14,000 vehicles a day — just 35% of it’s 40,000 capacity.

But the tunnel has freed up the city centre as it has reduced heavy goods traffic by up to 80%.