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Newry city Councillor Michael Savage has called for a consultation with residents and parishioners to come up with a traffic management solution to congestion in Dominic Street.
It comes after elderly Mass-goers were issued with parking tickets while attending the weekly St. Martin Novena on Monday.
Councillor Savage said: “I have been contacted by several elderly parishioners who went to the weekly St. Martin Novena at St. Catherine’s on Monday and when they came out they were issued with parking tickets.
“They told me that there had been an informal agreement to relax the parking restrictions in the area at Mass times and they are annoyed that they are facing a heavy fine which is a big hit for a pensioner.
“I would encourage those affected to appeal the tickets and point to the arrangement that appears to have been in place.”
Councillor Savage said this latest episode underlined the need to come up with an acceptable long term traffic management solution in the area.
He added: “The area is congested at the best of times and can be chaotic when services are being held in the Dominican so we need to really address this issue once and for all and come up with a traffic management solution in the area.
“I know a one-way proposal was suggested previously and some residents were reluctant to go down that route but we need to do something and create lawful parking spaces in the area for residents and parishioners.
“I have asked for this issue to be raised at our next Newry DEA meeting to see if a consultation can be facilitated that involves all the local stakeholders.”
