By Avril Horan

FEARS that clamping may make an unwelcome return were highlighted at Galway City Council this week after parking byelaws were updated for the first time in 15 years.

The clamp ban, introduced in 2006 following public anger over aggressive and inconsistent clamping practices, was viewed by many councillors as a settled issue.

However, continued references to clamping in the revised byelaws sparked concern that the practice could be revived.

“We took out clamping,” said Cllr Declan McDonnell (Ind), explaining that it was only ever to be used in exceptional cases such as blocking an emergency exit or occupying a disabled space.

He objected strongly to wording in the byelaws that referred to extending the grace period ‘before a vehicle can be clamped’ .

“It was never to do with them being clamped,” he said, “it was to allow them to buy a ticket.”

Cllr Terry O’Flaherty recalled that clamping “gave the city a bad name” while Cllr Frank Fahy (FG) questioned the logic of retaining powers that were not going to be enforced.

Officials explained that clamping was not currently in use and that the Council had “no intention to bring it back”.

However, they recommended leaving the legal power in place “should we ever have a need in the future”.

Director of Services Patrick Greene emphasised that councillors could choose to remove it entirely if they wished with Cllr McDonnell responding, “then we want it out”.

Officials said the new byelaws were long overdue and were mainly designed to modernise an outdated system.

The changes formally allow digital parking permits instead of paper discs, define new electronic payment methods and introduce specific enforcement powers for electric vehicle charging bays.

The updated parking byelaws were passed by Galway City Council.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.

Pictured: Cllr Declan McDonnell (Ind)