New Galway clamping blackspot as 'nine cars clamped at night in 45 minutes'
One clampee said this is a 'shooting fish in a barrel' approach
A local resident was walking by the Oran Point Shopping Centre on October 3 when he spotted a car he recognised to have the dreaded yellow lock in place - but when he went to investigate further, he found no fewer than nine cars clamped, and some distressed motorists as well.
One of those people clamped told local Gerard Burke that he was from the US, and he had paid for parking yet still got clamped. The parking operator from Apcoa told him he had a right of appeal, but he could not release the clamp until the €125 fine was paid. It took 90 minutes for the cars to be released.
Oran Point is home to the med tech start-up Neurent Medical, Oranmore Pharmacy and a newly-opened veterinary clinic.
“The injustice of this screamed at me from a number of perspectives – all clamps were applied between 8.45pm and 9.30pm, the warning signage is poor and not readily visible after nightfall. No businesses were operating when the clamps were applied – so no business was adversely affected by the cars parked there – this is a 'fish in a barrel' approach.”
He believes the penalty disproportionate and points out that all motorists were visitors to the village supporting local pubs and restaurants.
“I'm a resident who has been ticketed by our local authority for parking outside my own house. I know what injustice looks like when so many motorists daily travel the roads illegally with impunity,” he said.
“However, the actions of a private company yielding €125 from nine largely unsuspecting parkers is disgraceful.”
One tenant told Galway Live that customers receive two hours' free parking during business hours and that parking enforcement is necessary to keep spaces for valued customers.
“We've had some people parking here for ten days while they go off to Tenerife. There is plenty of signage all around the place. I guess it's one of those things, there has to be a balance.”
A spokesperson for the management company, Fairgreen Properties, said the contract was between Apcoa and the shop owners.
“We get no revenue out of the clamping, it's Apcoa that have the contract. It's a private car park. We manage the development, not the car park.”
Apcoa hadn’t responded at the time of publication.