Waterford City Manager Mr. Michael Walsh has admitted that it is getting more difficult to sort the problem of illegal caravan parking because Travellers are more knowledgeable as to the relevant laws and regulations and are wiser regarding how to “play the game” from their perspective.
“The system works against us to some degree”, he conceded in response to complaints voiced at Monday night’s City Council meeting by John Halligan and David Cullinane.
The Manager said it was with difficulty that the local authority got court convictions relating either to illegal caravan parking or illegal dumping of rubbish.
The reality was that the prosecution was charged with a heavy onus of proof and that was putting it kindly. On top of that, attitudes varied from court to court and from Judge to Judge.
“We are conscious of the difficulties in Ballybeg but the (legal) instruments at our disposal make it difficult for us to get results”, he lamented. Some cases are due in the local District Court this Friday.
Both Councillors Halligan and Cullinane expressed extreme frustration on behalf of residents in parts of the Ballybeg area who, they said, could see no relief in sight from the ongoing hassle, unsightliness and devaluation of their property arising from the problems highlighted.
Cllr. Halligan asked if existing laws were sufficient to cope with the situation and concluded that they were not.
Cllr. Tom Murphy raised both their hackles when he stood up to declare his delight that they were copping on to the difficulties in Ward 3 – he was like a stuck record going on about them for years.
While agreeing that he was like a stuck record, they quickly reminded him that they had been regularly on the case on behalf of their constituents.
Community and Enterprise Director Collette Byrne, responding to a query from Cllr. Cha O’Neill, said she would report to the next meeting as to the cost to the Council of the court cases it was attempting to prosecute.
