Appeal to Donegal businesses to remove sandwich boards and street furniture

Councillors and council staff are dealing with ongoing complaints about street furniture and sandwich boards on footpaths in Donegal.

The October meeting of the Municipal District (MD) of Donegal heard that unnecessary obstacles on footpaths were making life unduly difficult for many residents. While this was a problem across the MD, it was heard that Donegal Town was the source of a notable number of complaints.

Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Cllr Niamh Kennedy said: “I am  getting quite a few emails about sandwich boards and street furniture around the Diamond in Donegal Town. 

“Elderly people, wheelchair users, people with buggies are having difficulty getting around. 

“The widening of footpaths wasn't for street furniture, it was for pedestrians.

“Nobody wants to see a business fail but we have to be mindful of all our people. 

“It is a big issue for a lot of people.”

Area Manager for Roads Mark Sweeney agreed, saying he too had been contacted on the matter.

“It keeps coming up,” he said. “We have complaints from people who are visually impaired or impaired in some other way. 

“I have emailed the business focus group to ask them to try and clear the footpaths. 

“They are there for people to walk on, not to put sandwich boards on.”

Mr Sweeney said a meeting had been scheduled with a business group from Donegal Town, and the issue was on the agenda.

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However, he added that the problem was by no means limited to Donegal Town. 

“It is everywhere,” said Mr Sweeney. “We ask businesses to be aware of the footpath users.”