Councillor says Wexford shop owners would consider post office closure if ‘coralled in’ with bollards

A problem posed for Wexford County Council, it seems, is that these cars can frequently block footpaths, posing a danger for pedestrians. A potential solution that is reportedly being considered is bollards.

It was something of grave concern for local councillor Paddy Kavanagh who says that businesses are being "corralled" in with pencil bollards.

"If a business is set up there and doing well, they should be allowed to trade," he said. "Putting bollards on either side and stopping cars parking across the road, like they've always done, in the name of safety is penalising business owners.

"I'm told it's about the health and safety of those who use the footpaths, but there's nothing mentioned about the preservation of the business."

Going on to directly reference Freeman's in Oylegate, Cllr Kavanagh continued: "The post office is in the shop in Oylegate as well. I'm told that if this is foisted upon them, they would have to consider closing the post office."

The Wexford Independent Alliance councillor said that there should be more consultation between the local authority and businesses in relation to measures like installing bollards.

"There has to be a balance here," he said. "It was the same in The Shannon in Enniscorthy. It seems to be the easy way out – stick bollards 100 yards either side of the shop. There has to be fair play for everybody here."

Chief Executive of Wexford County Council Eddie Taaffe took a dim view of Cllr Kavanagh's appeals.

"In most cases, we would try to come up with some kind of compromise," he said. "Some cases are difficult. You know what I'm going to say to you – in Oylegate, there is a large car park available to the public that is not being widely used outside of mass times and funerals.

"The fact of the matter is that a lot of people will happily abandon their cars outside the shop rather than spend the 45 seconds walking from the car park."

Director of Services Eamonn Hore added that he would look at the matter again.

"I hate the overuse of bollards," he said. "Generally, we only use them as a last resort."