Councillor takes on clampers over ‘money-making exercise’
A city councillor has claimed a private clamping firm is raking in up to €600 per night in Knocknacarra.
Labour’s Niall McNelis said clamping is a “money-making exercise”, and does not address the problem of illegal parking.
He has now asked the Council’s Planning and Roads departments to look at the situation in relation to warning signage that clamping is in operation.
Cllr McNelis said the clamping hotspots are at the Docks, Long Walk, Clybaun Road in Knocknacarra, outside the derelict Sacre Coeur Hotel and now on the grounds of Claddagh church.
He said motorists parking at night outside the shops on Clybaun Road – or the medical clinic on the opposite side of the road – are being clamped while visiting the local pub.
“The signage is poor, there is no history of clamping in the past, and suddenly €600 a night is being generated for one firm in Knocknacarra, ruining many a good night out for those that did not know.
“In Knocknacarra, Salthill and the Claddagh, clamping has become a money-making exercise and does not sort an illegal parking problem.
“There are three separate companies operating on the Docks ... imagine being a visitor!
“During the stormy weather, a woman parked in the grounds of Claddagh church, but her ticket blew off the dashboard. She came back and she was clamped.
“Galway City Council got rid of on-street clamping and has no hand or act in doing this in the city and outskirts,” said Cllr McNelis.
He said progress has been made at a national level, after the Vehicle Clamping Bill came before the Dáil last month, which aims to regulate the practice.
“The public have concerns in regard to the activity of some clamping operators, and the extent to which clamping may be carried out in a less than fair manner, with no obvious consistent or transparent recourse to appeal against perceived abuses.
“The areas of greatest public concern relate to the level and variation in clamp release charges currently applied, the lack of a clearly identifiable and accessible clamping appeals process, and the oftentimes absence of appropriate information signage for motorists.
“The end result of this discussion was that the National Transport Authority (NTA) should be designated as regulator of clamping activities and that there should be a maximum permissible clamp release charges on private lands.
“As well as that, it was agreed that there should be a two-tier appeals process and an obligation to provide clear and prominent signage in areas where clamping is operated,” said Cllr McNelis.