Loss of parking adding extra layer of misery for residents of fire damaged apartments

As well as leaving 100 people homeless, the blaze last month at Academy Square also means the residents who continue to live there have lost their parking.

The basement car park was extensively damaged and the fire also destroyed the plant room which controls services such as the fire alarm and emergency lighting.

It is estimated that it will be six to nine months before the car park will be back in use and remedial works cannot progress until the insurance issue is ironed out.

The lack of parking has been hugely inconvenient for residents. With very little on-street parking available on the street, some have resorted to parking on double yellow lines and a number of residents have received parking tickets. Some residents have also taken to parking on what should be an open area between two of the buildings.

One resident Lukasz Fyda said that while he and his family are lucky enough to remain in their home after the fire, the situation over the lack of parking has been very upsetting and stressful.

He said there are only about seven or eight car parking spaces on the street and that parking tickets haven been issued to some residents, including himself for parking across the street, where there are double yellow lines. While he said they didn't want to park on double yellow lines there was very little parking available in the area.

According to Lukasz some people have resorted to parking outside the area and are using e-scooters to get to and from their homes.

Alan Grehan of Oriel Property Management said the management company had sourced alternative parking for residents but are not able to proceed until the insurance issue is clarified.

He said: "If it is not covered (and given the significant weekly cost of the alternative arrangement to the management company and the length of time it would be required for) the only other option available to the owners would be to convene an EGM of the company.

“This EGM would be to raise a special levy from all the owners, to cover the cost and I'm not entirely sure it would be voted through."

When contacted by Meath Co Council, a spokesperson said parking was the sole responsibility of the management company.

She added that the management company was working towards sourcing alternative parking off site for current residents until repairs to the underground car park are carried out.

"The priority is to safely manage the current capacity of the on-street parking spaces for the residents of Academy Street.

“Meath Co Council manage the street parking through the issuing of ‘permits’ to existing residents.

“Due to the nature of the street, there is limited capacity to expand the permit system as the overall street is in the main residential development.

“The safety of pedestrians and other road users must be considered."