Claims Longford public should not have to put up with ‘manky dirty’ car parks

The call was made at a meeting of Longford County Council last week as misgivings were raised about the day to day upkeep of some of its most heavily utilised public amenities.

Independent Cllr Mark Casey said the council should suspend all paid parking charges until all car parks, footpaths, signage and flower beds are made more visually appealing.

He branded many of the county town’s current compliment of car parking facilities as being in a “disgraceful condition”.

He said: “The majority of people from rural Longford who drive in and park have to pay for their parking and the car parks are in a dreadful condition, it’s an absolute disgrace.”

Cllr Casey also took aim at a parking machine at the rear of Sports Direct, slamming it as “manky dirty” and an eyesore the Longford public should not have to tolerate.

The Lanesboro based local politician said he raised an almost identical issue six months ago, bemoaning how little or no progress on the matter had been made.

“The new car parks beside Tesco, the flower beds have weeds and nettles in them,” he said. “There is no plan as to how we will look after this. We need to clean up our car parks and make them look like proper car parks like every other county. You do not see this in Roscommon, Cavan or in our neighbouring counties.”

Cathaoirleach of Longford County Council Cllr Colm Murray declined to allow the motion be sent to the floor, saying paid parking was a reserved function for Longford's Municipal District members.

Cllr Casey's Independent colleague Cllr Gerry Warnock led similar calls nonetheless by asking for a standalone “Parks Division” to be set uo within the council.

“Over the last number of years Longford County Council has invested millions of euros of public money on the provision of aesthetically pleasing public realm works and recreational walkways that is certainly of benefit to the public and truly welcome,” he said.

“However, we are falling significantly short when it comes to the maintenance and upkeep of these works.

“The establishment of a Parks Division would remedy this and futureproof the capital investment for years to come.”