Traffic wardens rapped for being ‘heavy handed’

Traffic wardens rapped for being ‘heavy handed’

1 June 2016

TRAFFIC wardens have been accused of being “heavy handed” after a coach ferrying visitors to Downpatrick last week was issued with a parking ticket.

Councillor Naomi Bailie said while the wardens were doing their job, there was a need for those in charge of parking enforcement to display more flexibility at times.

The coach was parked outside Denvir’s Coaching Inn at English Street when a warden issued a ticket as the vehicle had stopped on double yellow lines.

Councillor Bailie intends to help the tour operator appeal the parking ticket and fine and has suggested parking is an issue which urgently needs to be addressed in the town.

“The coach was bringing visitors to Downpatrick and it is my understanding it was parked outside Denvir’s for 10 minutes,” she continued. “The issuing of the ticket was heavy handed and wardens need to show more flexibility in their application. 

“Tourism is at the backbone of Downpatrick and the one industry that could potentially put the town on the world map in years to come. Newry, Mourne and Down Council is working hard with agencies right across this sector to ensure the town is marketed to its full potential and given every chance of becoming a unique site, given its association with St Patrick and Irish history enthusiasts.”

Councillor Bailie said government agencies in Downpatrick must work alongside the local council to build and promote the district’s tourism product and “not work against it.” She said while issuing the coach with a parking ticket was “extremely disappointing,” Councillor Bailie said she fully appreciates traffic wardens have a job to do.

“In this particular instance, the wardens applied the law correctly, but I believe issuing this ticket was heavy handed and the matter could and should have been dealt with differently. Wardens need to apply flexibility and be wary of the huge long term damage they will cause Downpatrick if issues like this continue to stain visitor experiences,” she continued.

Councillor Bailie confirmed she will be contacting the coach company to offer her support and assist its attempts to have the parking ticket and fine overturned.

She added: “Coach companies and visitors are very welcome in Downpatrick. I would hate to see this experience send 

out the wrong message as we have a unique set of tourist hotspots in the town including the Down County Museum, Arts Centre, St Patrick’s 

Grave and the St Patrick Centre, all of which sit within a very small area and have restricted parking availability nearby. 

“There is also a need to urgently review the parking situation in Downpatrick to ensure adequate provision to accommodate the increasing numbers of visitors.”