By Avril Horan

MAYOR of Galway City, Cllr Mike Cubbard, has hit out at the “disgusting way” some campervan owners treat South Park, stating that “it’s no way to treat a public amenity”, after excrement and rubbish were left behind.

The issue arose during heated debate about parking byelaws, which were approved by Galway City Council, in the first update to the legislation since 2009.

Director of Services Patrick Greene explained that the Council did not currently have a written policy on campervans and that this will be developed at Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) level.

While the new byelaws do not propose a citywide ban on campervans, councillors have the power to review and amend where they may park under the ‘prescribed roads’ section.

At this week’s meeting, councillors said residents in The Claddagh, Beach Court, Rowan Avenue in Renmore and Shantalla were “up in arms” about campervans parking overnight in their neighbourhoods.

“It is becoming a serious problem,” said Cllr John McDonagh (Lab), “and it should be included in the byelaws.”

He proposed a motion to ban overnight parking of campervans and motorhomes on the public streets of The Claddagh, saying numbers had increased significantly in recent months.

Cllr Terry O’Flaherty (Ind) said she had received “a lot of complaints” from residents of Rowan Avenue, while Cllr Frank Fahy (FG) said he had also been contacted by people living in The Claddagh on the issue.

Cllr Declan McDonnell (Ind) raised questions about land ownership around the Claddagh Hall and whether part of the area is privately owned, making byelaw enforcement more complex.

Director of Services Patrick Greene confirmed that they “will look at campervans”, as councillors voted in favour of adopting the new parking byelaws.

Meanwhile, Mayor Cubbard requested an update on residents’ parking schemes for Bohermore, Newcastle, Claddagh and Shantalla, saying locals were being treated as “second-class citizens.”

Pictured: Mayor of Galway City, Cllr Mike Cubbard

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme