Cllr Calls For Laneway To Be Closed At Night Due To Anti-Social Behaviour

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Old Kerryman Lane off Russell Street.

A LOCAL councillor is calling for a laneway in town to be closed at night due to anti-social behaviour.

Sinn Féin Cllr Deirdre Ferris, speaking at the meeting of Tralee Municipal District this morning, asked Council management to enter discussions with the residents and business owners in and around Old Kerryman Lane that connects Russell Street to Market Lane to discuss the reinstatement of the gates and their constant issues with anti-social behaviour.

In reply, Council Management said the matter can be discussed with residents as requested and Tralee Municipal District has relayed the concern regarding the occurrence of anti- social behaviour with An Garda Síochána.

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However, while Cllr Ferris accepted anti-social behaviour was a matter for Gardaí, she said the Council should close the laneway off at night, as they have done with Bill Booley’s Lane, to help prevent people loitering in the area.

She said there were originally gates at the laneway which were closed at night. She said she had discussed the matter with businesses and residents in the area who had contacted the Council about anti-social behaviour over the years.

Cllr Ferris said doors of people living close to the laneway had been kicked in and people were afraid of individuals under the influence of drink/drugs occupying the laneway at night.

Mayor Johnnie Wall supported Cllr Ferris on the matter saying he had seen people urinating in the middle of the day at the laneway and something needs to be done about it.

Tralee Chamber Chief Executive Ken Tobin, thanked Cllr Ferris for raising the issues.”The issue on the laneway as you know has been ongoing for years, and despite numerous attempts through other means to resolve the issues, in November 2018 we had to resort to sending a petition signed by all the residents and businesses in the area through to the MD office in Tralee to have the laneway closed. This petition was never replied to formally. Since then we’ve raised the issue on numerous occasions to achieve a resolution.”