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24th Mar 2017

There’s a parking free-for-all in Galway and it’s costing the council

Niamh Maher

Buckle up for some free parking.

We’re always a little unsure what to do if a parking meter isn’t working. We normally check other people’s cars, write a friendly note explaining there is NOTHING we could do, or wait around for someone else to come then hide in our cars and watch what they do.

Well in Galway today, and for the last few weeks, people have been reaping the benefits of faulty parking meters.

The machines that gobble up all our cash are reportedly out of order across Galway City much to the dismay of local authorities. According to the Connacht Tribune, the city’s largest local authority car park on the Dyke road has been free for the last two weeks because meters simply aren’t working.

Labour councillor Billy Cameron is concerned about the amount of cash the council is losing,

“It’s not only the Dyke Road. All of the parking meters in Newcastle are out of order, including University Road, Ashgrove, Newcastle Park, and right up as far as the hospital. All of the Claddagh, except for Claddagh Quay, are out, and so too is Nuns’ Island, and elsewhere in the city, The City Council is haemorrhaging money because the parking meters are out of order and soon the entire city will be one big free car park, if this is allowed to continue,”

A spokesperson for the council said that parking meters are out of order in some areas across the city and steps are being taken to resolve the situation.

Enjoy it while you can, this can’t last long.