Saturday, 2 June 2007

Proposed development could mean a return to parking nightmare for Tea Lane resident Pensioner fears being blocked in own home

Years of parking misery have ended for an elderly resident of Tea Lane, Arklow, but he still fears the bad old days of being blocked in his own house by illegally parked cars could soon return.

Tom Kavanagh, 70, said after years of stress and worry, recent town council works had finally fixed the problem of cars blocking the narrow entrance of Tea Lane onto the Coolgreaney Road.

A yellow box has been painted and bollards erected to deter errant parkers.

But Mr Kavanagh fears a proposal for a three-story commercial development on the contentious corner could mean a return to the bad old days.

Arklow Town Council approved the development, even though it provided only two of the required 11 on-site car parking spaces, and Mr Kavanagh and another resident objected to An Bord Pleanála.

The Bord was due to adjudicate on the matter yesterday (Wednesday) but have pushed back their decision until June 22.

The council have done a good job but if this other building goes in it could get bad again,' he said.

My health and that of my wife has been ruined with the stress of the parking.'

If it wasn't for the doctor I'd be dead now over this.'

Mr Kavanagh said in the past he had been frequently blocked in and unable to leave his own driveway. He said he had also been threatened after confronting illegal parkers.

Meanwhile, another application for a two storey office development further along Tea Lane was this week rejected by Arklow Town Council, partly because it didn't provide enough parking spaces.

Four objections had been lodged to the development, which was submitted in the name of Tony Molloy. Mr Kavanagh, who was one of the objectors, welcomed the decision.

The council's work at Tea Lane has even earned envious praise from other residents' associations.

They've done a great job there and other associations should work with the council to see what can be done in their own areas,' said Ferrybank Residents' Association PRO Liam Keogh.

Wicklow People

No comments: