IWA highlights disabled parking issues in Longford

The Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) Kenagh Resource Outreach Centre hosted an event recently to raise local awareness on all matters relating to disabled parking permits and spaces.

The matters addressed included the following - how to apply for a disabled parking permit; the appropriate use of disabled parking permits; the impact on permit holders of misuse of disabled parking permits and spaces; and the need for additional spaces in Longford town.

The meeting was attended by approximately fifty people, including IWA members and staff, An Garda Síochána, employees from the traffic department of Longford County Council, as well as local representatives. Garda McGowan spoke on the use and misuse of parking permits and took questions from the floor, with two service users highlighting misuse of parking.

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The visibility of disabled parking spaces was discussed and Access Officer from Longford Co Co Frank Horne informed the meeting that there are 76 disabled parking spaces in Longford with plans to add a further five. All disabled parking spaces have recently been painted blue making them clearly visible.

The meeting was a great success with plenty of discussion. Those in attendance received clarity on many queries which they had. The branch would like to thank the following who spoke and gave advice and valuable information: Garda Martin McGowan, Tony Moran (CE supervisor), Derek Craig (Traffic Management Longford Co Co), Frank Horne (Access Officer Longford Co Co), Gary Murtagh (Tus co-ordinator), Cllr John Browne and Cllr Micheál Carrigy.