Wardens swoop to the delight of businesses
Kenny Herron, manager of Furniture Outlet at Seagoe Industrial Estate - clear parking at last, thanks to the Portadown Times and the traffic wardens. INPT36-966.
TRAFFIC wardens have been given an unaccustomed vote of thanks at Seagoe Industrial Estate after clearing the way for deliveries to a group of small businesses.
The problem - reported in the Portadown Times last week - was that drivers were ignoring the double yellow lines and were parking in the narrow roads leading to businesses like Furniture Outlet, leaving the 40-foot lorries with nowhere to turn.
The culprits were mainly employees of Moy Park, who found it more convenient to park outside the factory complex than inside, where there is more than enough space. They parked close to the ‘no parking at any time signs’, near to the small businesses, and pleas to the DRD to bring in the redcoats were “ignored”.
The Times was called in by Kenny Herron, manager of Furniture Outlet, who said he had regularly been in touch with Moy Park and with the DRD, with no result. He said at the time, “It’s a problem day after day. Moy Park employees park their cars at the approach to our premises - and to several others - blocking the path of the 40-foot lorries that deliver to them. At least four firms are affected.
“The delivery lorry drivers often have to park well away from our showroom and then we have to carry the furniture. Or if they can squeeze in, a car is damaged occasionally. It really is a nuisance. We have complained to Moy Park, and to be fair, the management is doing its best. We have put in request after request for the traffic wardens to come out and sort it, but they don’t seem interested and neither do the police. The wardens seem too busy at pulling up every minor parking incident in Portadown, rather than sorting out the major problems here.”
After the Times highlighted the issue, two wardens arrived to sort it out, a plethora of tickets appeared on the various windscreens, there was a follow-up visit the following week, and most of the cars are now parked legally.
Said Kenny, “Well, there is one ‘rogue’ car that still parks on the yellow lines, and to be fair, it doesn’t obstruct the delivery lorries. But the driver is running the gauntlet of the wardens who are making spot checks.”
He added that, after the Times story appeared, the DRD said that resources were in place to sort things out, “and that’s what they have done. All’s well that ends well, thanks to the Portadown Times.”
He added that Moy Park had also stressed to their employees that there was ample space within the factory grounds for everyone to park, and that he appreciated the efforts made by everyone. “We worked with Moy Park, and they did their best, but they couldn’t force their employees where to park. The wardens could - and they did.”
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Thursday 23 May 2013
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