This article is from page 10 of the 2006-04-18 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 10 JPG
TOURISTs and locals face a long summer of gridlock if they want to view the county’s most famous natural tourism asset, the Cliffs of Moher. This is the view being expressed by many who have witnessed the major traffic congestion that took place at the site over the Bank Holiday weekend.
There were a number of reports of 50-minute tailbacks in both directions during peak times on Bank Holiday Sunday, with bus tour operators and private vehicles having trouble entering and exiting the temporary car park facilities.
The tailbacks were as a result of people parking cars on both sides of the narrow road which services the Cliffs, as well as an amount of congestion in the car park itself.
“Tourists were complaining to everyone they could find,” said local trader Gerry Cahill, who is embroiled in a long-standing argument with Clare County Council over his right to trade at the Cliffs.
“There was a queue both in and out of the car park, with people being held up by as much as 50 minutes at times.”
The problem was exacerbated by the removal of the double yellow lines along the road side last week, which prevented Gardaí from removing cars parked on either side of the road.
“This is an ongoing problem and, if something isn’t done, it will be like this all summer long,” continued Mr Cahill.
“This is supposed to be a car park and not a building site, and I don’t understand why they can’t sort it out.”
It is believed that the recent negative publicity concerning the cost of parking and admission to the new interpretative centre at the Cliffs is encouraging people to park on the narrow road and avoid paying.
“People just don’t want to have to pay high prices for parking at the Cliffs – especially Irish people who know that there is a public right of way,” continued Mr Cahill.
“There has been a lot of bad press about price hikes at the Cliffs and this is people starting to react to it.
“Gradually, Clare County Council are trying to erode the public’s right of way to the Cliffs.
“You could drive a car up there one time and now it is just a multinational mess of a place.”
Responding to these alligations Ger Dollard, Director of Services at Clare County Council said that extra staff had been put in place to deal with the problem on Monday.
“Easter Sunday is as busy as any day in August and there was a difficulty with people parking on the verge,” commented Mr Dollard. “We put on additional staff in the car park and the situation was much inproved on Monday.”