Dublin People - Cabbies plan strike over lack of spaces

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Cabbies plan strike over lack of spaces

Tuesday, 29 April 2008

Taxi drivers in Dún Laoghaire are planning to protest over what they say is a lack of space at the town’s only taxi rank.
The rank on Marine Road provides for just six taxis and drivers say that as there are up to 40 local taxis in the area there is a severe shortage of space.
They also claim they are constantly being fined by the gardaí and traffic wardens if so much as a wheel of their cabs extends into one of the adjoining disabled parking bays.
They are now demanding that Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council provides them with extra parking.
Local taxi driver, John Brady, said he had discussed the situation with council officials over six months ago but claimed the local authority had yet to provide drivers with any extra spaces.

“I have been down to the council and I have met a senior executive officer in the Transportation Department down there,” he said. “When I asked about more taxi space in the borough I was asked if we would be able to compensate them (the council) for the revenue they would lose from the pay and display meters.
He added: “We could do with a good dozen extra spaces if they could give them to us. Even if they gave us the whole length of the street and put the disabled parking somewhere else that would help.”
Mr Brady said the council plans to provide for up to 30 extra taxi spaces in areas around the county but that none of these had been allocated yet.
He said taxi drivers were being fined e80 nearly every day because there was not enough space at the rank on Marine Road. He added that this was severely affecting their livelihood.
“Every time we get a ticket it costs us e80,” he told Southside People. “The way business is at the moment we are lucky to make e80 a day.
He added that drivers planned to demonstrate against the lack of provision for spaces in the coming weeks.
Therese Langan, senior executive officer, Transportation Department, said the council had consulted with Dún Laoghaire taxi drivers late last year, at which the provision of additional spaces was discussed.
“Additional spaces are being considered as part of the Dún Laoghaire Traffic Management Plan which has recently been agreed by council,” she said.

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