New parking policy at school in Ballincollig

COLÁISTE Choilm in Ballincollig has revised its drop-off and pick-up policy for parents ahead of the new school term after complaints from cyclists about motorists parking in cycle lanes.

The school consulted with Gardaí and informed parents that they are no longer allowed to use the cycle lane in front of the school as a set down area at peak times. A text was sent out to all parents of the school saying parking or set down in the cycle lanes outside the school is no longer allowed.

In recent years, parents had been told they could park in the cycle lanes at peak times, between 8.15am and 9.15am, 1pm to 2.15pm and 3.30pm to 4.30pm.

Superintendent Colm O’Sullivan said the Gardaí received a number of complaints regarding people parking in the cycle lanes in the vicinity of the school.

“There is no basis in law to give consent to park in a cycle lane,” he said. “There was an agreement previously between the Local Authority, the school and the Superintendent at the time, but there is no basis to allow anyone to breach the law. We are damned if we do and damned if we don’t.”

“A number of people have complained. We can’t support this, we can’t give consent for a person to break the law,” he said.

Superintendent O’Sullivan encouraged parents to be “practical and reasonable” and to use common sense with relation to bringing their kids to and from school.

Local Fine Gael councillor Derry Canty said he would be engaging with the school and the Gardaí to see what he can do to help the situation.

“I do know that some people have been picking up kids from the primary school and then parking outside the secondary school for half an hour waiting for their children,” he said.

Mr Canty said there were traffic congestion issues in relation to people parking in the cycle lanes and cyclists were complaining.

“There have been problems with buses and trucks trying to pass each other and cyclists have to go onto the road. If you were a cyclist, cycling every day in and out of town, you would be complaining too.”

Mr Canty also said this was not a new issue, with debate ongoing for the past four or five years about what should be done at drop off and pick up time. The fine for parking in a cycle lane is €40 if paid within 28 days or €60 fine after 28 days.