This article is from page 20 of the 2009-02-03 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 20 JPG
STRATEGIES for taxi services in Ennis should be designed by Ennis Town Council and not by taxi driv- ers, a meeting has heard.
Councillor Frankie Neylon (Ind) told yesterday’s monthly meeting of Ennis Town Council that the initia- tive for developing new and addition- al taxi ranks had to come from the local authority.
‘I don’t know do we want taxi driv- ers to make decisions on taxi ranks in the town. When we moved the rank we discussed it all extensively with the drivers and traders in Par- nell Street,’ said Cllr Neylon.
He added, “I’d like to see the design
done by the designers and not by the taxi drivers. If it was up to the taxi drivers, they’d probably have a little space set aside for a blanket to lie down on.”
Mayor of Ennis Peter Considine said the council had enjoyed a strong partnership with taxi drivers and their representatives.
Cllr Neylon said that when work in the Parnell Street car park was complete taxi drivers would be “de- lighted”’.
Members were discussing a motion put forward by Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) calling for the council to “ur- gently prepare a taxi rank strategy for Ennis”.
In response, Town Clerk Eddie
Power said an assessment on the pro- vision of part-time/night-time ranks in key locations in Ennis was cur- rently being carried out.
He added, “It 1s not intended to reduce the capacity of the taxi rank in Parnell Street car park, nor it is proposed to revise or alter its payout. You will be aware that the designa- tion and provision of the taxi rank in this location was considered to be the optimum location and was subject to two public consultation processes. The process of adopting byelaws to designate the taxi rank involved pub- lic consultation and furthermore the physical works were also subject to public consultation in accordance with Part VIII of the planning and
development regulations.”
Mr Power said, “Consideration of designating additional permanent full-time ranks will take place at a later stage following completion of the assessment.”
Town Manager Tom Coughlan said that it was his understanding that matters related to taxi services had been dealt with at the council’s an- LUE Melb Cohe