BY C.J. MCGINLEY

UP to seventy taxi drivers staged a protest at the Town Council offices in Letterkenny on Monday night as a row over ranks deepened.

Taxi drivers have warned they may withdraw services at peak times and may even stage a protest convoy of vehicles around the town over what a spokesman described as the 'lack of action' by the council in providing extra ranks.

Speaking to the Donegal News, Mr Padraig Keogh, Secretary of the Letterkenny Taxi Owners' Association said there was 'growing frustration' among drivers. A crux meeting between a delegation of taxi drivers and the Town Council has been arranged for July 30 in an effort to reach some resolution to the problem.

Mr Keogh said taxi men were furious there were just twenty eight parking spaces around the town for 185 licensed taxis. The existing ranks are at Port Road (3), Market Square (12), Oldtown Road opposite Dunnes (5) and Upper Port Road (8). There are a further eight private spaces at Atlantic Homecare on Paddy Harte Road.

"We're looking for an additional 22 spaces at four different locations-Upper Main Street, High Road, Lower Main Street and the Station Roundabout. We had a meeting with the council over six weeks ago and since then we've been left in the dark and received no correspondence," he said.

"We decided to stage the protest to show the council officials and the members the depth of frustration that our members are feeling about addressing the parking requirements," he said.

"Some members are so angry they're threatening to withdraw services at peak times such as at 11pm on Saturday nights or stage a protest involving a convoy of vehicles around the town. The turnout on Monday night was a reflection of how serious our members are about this issue. There is a hardening of attitude among drivers," he added.

Six weeks ago taxi drivers staged a protest at the Town Council offices and met with council officials.

"We've heard nothing since. We're in the dark and drivers feel they are not being taken seriously by the council," Mr Keogh said.

"We spoke to a number of councillors on their way into Monday night's meeting and they're sympathetic to our cause but the issue was not on the agenda for the meeting. The Council has agreed to meet with a deputation of taxi men later this month," Mr Keogh added.

Speaking to the Donegal News Town Engineer Mr Michael McFadden said the council would now be proposing an extra eight taxi spaces in the Lower Main Street and High Road areas.

"A new rank is proposed opposite the Credit Union on the High Road which will facilitate four taxis while another is proposed for the Lower Main Street from the top of Oliver Plunkett Road back towards the Courtyard Shopping Centre for four more. This will result in the loss of parking spaces at both locations but in the Lower Main Street it is mitigated by the fact there is a multi storey car park in the vicinity," he said.

The Town Engineer stressed that just 43 per cent of the taxi ranks are currently used within the urban area.

"Taxis still congregate at the Mace shop on the Port Road and the car park at Donegal Sports. This creates traffic flow problems particularly at the access into the car park, thus becoming a hindrance to shoppers and traders. Taxi's have refused to use the two ranks provided on the Port Road," he said.

CONSIDERATION

Mr McFadden said consideration had been given to representations made by the Letterkenny Taxi Owners Association but locations at the AIB on Upper Main Street, Pearse Road and Station Roundabout were not being considered.

"The AIB was not considered as this proposal would create additional congestion at a busy junction. Furthermore consideration must be given to the provision of parking spaces for the church at this location. Pearse Road is not being considered because this is a busy regional road with no advantage in providing a rank at this location. Furthermore a substantial rank has been provided on private ground at Atlantic Homecare which to date has never been used," he said.

"At Station car park this location as a taxi rank has always been problematic as the rank is restricted to three taxis. The proposal to increase the number of taxi spaces is not considered as the limited parking in the area should be reserved for retail," he added.

The Town Engineer said the proposals for the extra eight spaces would be going out for public consultation this week.