Cllr wants solution to Trim caravan parking

Trim Town Councillor Ronan McKenna is calling for a "zero tolerence policy" for caravans parking outside the halting site in Trim. Cllr McKenna raised the issue of caravans parking on the Ring Road at last week's meeting of the local town council and asked what system was in place to deal with it. Town Clerk Brian Murphy explained that the halt site is run by the council's housing section and that notice is to be served again to move them on. Cllr McKenna said: "The residents are fed up, the council is fed up serving notices. I think the town council and Gardai should work closely to find a more permanent solution," he said. Town Manager Kevin Stewart said it was a Meath County Council issue as they are the enforcing authority. Cllr McKenna asked that Trim Town Council write to Meath County Council saying they are not happy with the policy and that they want zero tolerance. Mr Stewart said the issue is ongoing and that he would not like the message to go out that the staff are not 100 per cent committed. "It is the same two vehicles, why is there not a more permanent solution?" asked Cllr McKenna. Cllr Trevor Golden said they had raised concerns before and bollards were installed which were a deterrent near the entrance. He suggested that they put up bollards the rest of the way and they asked the engineer to look at this. Cllr Gerry Reilly asked why the council could not change the by-laws so that if the vehicles are there for five days, they are towed away. "Meath County Council said there would be a supervisor, but there is none outside. We were told the halting site would not be a problem but Cllr Cantwell has a list of conditions and not one of them were kept," he added. Cllr Reilly asked Cllr Butler to "make noise" about the issue at area level, and Cllr Butler said he would. Cllr McKenna pointed out that it was the area council that had adopted the plan to spend the money and Cllr Butler replied that if they did not accept the money, it would go elsewhere. He added that area councillors had met with housing officer Larry Whelan and were assured that all concerns would be addressed to the highest standards.