Sir, - Your report by Geraldine Comiskey on the growing influence of local residents' associations (The Irish Times, May 6th) states that the Dun Laoghaire Combined Residents' Association and the local business association are campaigning for "disc parking".
"Disc parking" was abandoned by the local authority in Dun Laoghaire a decade ago. This followed widespread unrest and protests resulting in embarrassment and serious financial loss to the local authority.
In recent months the Dun Laoghaire Business Association came to an agreement with the town's five residents' associations, including the mid-town Combined Residents Association. We in Dun Laoghaire seek the immediate introduction of "pay and display" machine parking control, provided the first hour is free and provided local residents receive free permits for parking outside our homes.
We look forward to the early introduction of the agreed system, which is not disc parking as we knew it yesteryear. - Yours, etc.,
Vincent McDowell, Chairman, Dun Laoghaire Business Association, Northumberland Avenue, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin.