'It's like the emperor's new clothes,' Outdoor seating described as a waste of parking

Councillors in Dungarvan have called for a review into outdoor seating in the winter months.

Cllr Joe O’Riordan first raised the issue at the March sitting of the Dungarvan-Lismore District Council meeting, saying empty seating has an impact on businesses.

“It feels like I’m banging my head against the wall because nothing is being done about it, and it’s just ridiculous to look at it in the winter months,” said Cllr O’Riordan.

Describing them as like “the emperor’s new clothes,” the councillor said that while they do look well, the space could be put to better use as parking.

And while he acknowledged that it would be difficult from a planning perspective to take them out and put them back, something similar is done on the quay.

“We are lifting 10-tonne boats out of the quay and putting them on the back of trailers and storing them and we can’t put a few chairs and tables and screens,” said Cllr O’Riordan.

Cllrs Donnchadh Mulcahy and Thomas Phelan both agreed with their district colleague.

Cllr Mulcahy said he understood them during the summer but agreed that they are a waste of parking space in the winter.

Cllr Phelan said that when they were first proposed, they were supposed to be movable.

“It is frustrating for people in the winter months looking for a parking space and seeing them empty,” said Cllr Phelan.

He also pointed out that some are not well cared for and they tend to cause accessibility issues.

They are a little bit exclusionary and after a few years, I think they could do with a look at to bring them up to best practice, said Cllr Phelan.

An official for the economic section of Waterford City and County Council said he would bring it back to his colleagues to see if a review was possible.

Funded under the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.