GARDAÍ are to be consulted following fresh concerns over poor parking at Downings pier. Mulroy Coastguard has launched a ‘Think Before You Park’ campaign following a number of incidents where vehicles have been left in an area specifically marked out for the emergency services.
The campaign comes a month after Coastguard personnel were prevented from accessing a slipway in Bunbeg due to bad parking. On that occasion the boat team was delayed by ten minutes when responding to an incident.
Flagging up where vehicles can and cannot park at Downings pier, a spokesperson for Mulroy Coastguard said parking in the yellow box was “putting lives at risk”.
“We need this box to launch our boat,” said the Coastguard.
“Think before you park and ask yourself have you parked responsibly? Are you potentially blocking access for emergency vehicles? Yellow boxes are there for a reason, please be mindful,” they added.
A car parked smack in the middle of a yellow box at Downings pier marked out for use by the Coastguard and emergency services. Mulroy Coastguard says poor parking is becoming increasingly problematic at the scenic harbour.
But speaking at last week’s meeting of Letterkenny and Milford Municipal District, Councillor Gerry McMonagle said the Coastguard’s pleas are being ignored.
Raising questions over enforcement, Councillor McMonagle said, “There needs to be some regulation of it and it needs to stop.”
A Donegal County Council official said they intend to follow up with gardaí to see if they can come up with a solution to the problem.
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