Galway County Councillors’ cars clamped during meeting at NUIG

Newly elected members of Galway County Council got something of a shock when they found that their cars were clamped after attending a five hour long meeting of the local authority.

And even a former Mayor of County Council did not escape the wrath of clampers – despite all concerned displaying permits allowing them to park their vehicles.

The problem is that the meetings of Galway County Council are being held in the Bailey Allen Hall on the grounds of the NUI Galway campus.

This is because works have to be carried out at County Hall at Prospect Hill in Galway to extend the council chamber to accommodate 39 councillors when there used to be 30.

However, works have not commenced on the extension to the council chamber yet but in the meantime they are holding their meetings in NUIG.

Parking is at a premium on the campus but, despite being issued with permits, Fine Gael’s Cllr. Peter Keaveney from Glenamaddy, Cllr. Joe Folan (Ind) from Rosmuc and former Mayor of County Galway Cllr. Tomas Welby all had their cars clamped on the grounds.

It is simply to do with the fact that their permits only allowed them to park in a particular area that is close to the Bailey Allen Hall and not in the ‘paid-for-parking’ areas. They did not know this.

It cost them €60 each to have the clamps released and despite telling the clampers that they were there on Council business, it fell on deaf ears.

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.