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ADDITIONAL PARKING NEEDED IN VICINITY OF THE MALL. . . A demand is being made on Mayo County Council to transfer the machinery yard at the rear of the Mall to a more suitable site on the outskirts of the town. The matter was raised when members of Castlebar Urban Council welcomed a plan by the County Council to provide a training centre, stores and workshop at the Mall. But they are disappointed that no provision is being made for additional carparking spaces at the location. They suggested the machinery yard was an ideal site for a new town centre carpark. Mr. Alex Fleming, assistant county manager, said it would cost in the region of £1m to move the machinery yard to a new location and there were no plans to do so. In regard to the planning application before the authority, he explained there was no room to provide a carpark on the site of the former Mellette's garage. Mr. Frank Durcan said it was high time the machinery yard was moved out of town to a site at the industrial estate. "How can we ask developers to provide carparking spaces if we don't ask Mayo County Council to do so? "Is it a case of 'do as I say' rather than 'do as I do'? "The Mall area needed additional carparking, and we cannot allow this proposal go ahead unless parking is provided." Mr. Paddy McGuinness said he agreed 100 per cent with Mr. Durcan. "The Mall is totally congested. While I welcome the training centre, it does not mean we should make a bad situation even worse. "It's a shame to see the Mall already cluttered with illegally parked cars." Senator Paddy Burke said Mayo County Council made a disastrous decision by building the new motor tax office on the site of the old building at the rear of the Courthouse. "It should have been sited in a place where there was adequate parking. "It is a reasonable suggestion to relocate the machinery yard in the industrial estate." Mr. Johnny Mee said there was a site between the swimming pool and the County Library, known locally as 'the magazine field,' which would be suitable for a new carpark. Mr. Blackie Gavin, chairman, was also in favour of the machinery yard being moved out of the town centre. Mr. Paul Ainsworth said he supported the Mayo County Council application. He hoped the assistant county manager would take on board the views expressed by the council members. Mr. Ainsworth also highlighted the fact that a carpark was not provided when the swimming pool was built in Castlebar. |
