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Priest's 'pray and display'
warning 18.12.07
AN INISHOWEN parish
priest has warned motorists he will have their cars
towed away if they abuse the use of free parking
spaces at his church.
Fr. John Walsh, parish priest of Buncrana, has been
forced to issue the warning after the recent
introduction of pay and display parking charges in
the seaside town. |
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The 50c an-hour charges
have left many frugal drivers scouring the town for
free spaces including those at St. Mary's Oratory
car park.
"We want to appeal to drivers not to be using our
car park for day-long parking. If we feel people are
abusing the car park just to avoid paying the
parking charges, we will have their vehicles towed
away and that's not an idle threat," said Fr. Walsh.
"The purpose of this car park |
is to facilitate people
using the Church, the Blessed Sacrament Chapel and
the parish office. There are funerals and weddings
here quite often too and
people need to be able to park during these
services."
The Church car park has 68 spaces but many of them
are also taken up daily by teachers at Scoil
Iosagain primary school, said Fr. Walsh.
He urged the local teachers to free up as many of
the spaces where possible.
"I would appeal to the teachers at Scoil Iosagain to
car share as much as possible or to walk to school
if they can. The exercise will do them the world of
good," he said.
A notice placed in the Church car park in recent
days advises: "We want to advise you that parking is
NOT permitted here for the duration of the day.
Failure to adhere to this will result in your
vehicle being towed away". Fr. Walsh said he would
be enquiring from Gardaí the procedures required for
having unwanted vehicles removed. |
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