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The new taxi rank at Tesco car park near Boots Pharmacy.
TRALEE taxi drivers are to withdraw their services from tonight at 7pm until Sunday morning at 7am.
The action comes after stalemate in discussions with Kerry County Council during the week about the current position of the new rank near Boots/Tesco.
The taxi drivers staged a protest through town last week about the issue which they say is seriously affecting their livelihoods.
In a statement (below) issued to media this morning the association outlined their reasons for the action:
Continued below…
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“Tralee Taxi Association wish to inform the public that taxis in Tralee will withdraw services from 7pm this evening Saturday 1st July until 7am Sunday morning 2nd July.
This action of withdrawing services is in protest to Kerry County Council and the Tralee Municipal District for their failure to address taxi drivers’ concerns with the re-location of the Taxi Rank in Tralee.
Tralee Taxi Association regret any inconvenience which this may cause to the public and Tralee Taxi Association sincerely apologise to our customers, however Kerry County Council have left taxis with no other option.”
Do taxi’s pay rates like other business owners in Tralee town centre
Tralee Taxi Association, no one but the taxi drivers want taxis in the most prominent areas of Tralee towns streets such as Denny Street and the Mall. Denny Street has been restored to its former glory and the mall will be of better serviced without lines of taxis taking over the whole place!
Look at our capital city and how its done in Dublin?
No taxis ranks on Henry or Grafton street, these streets are for the people! The Taxi rank on O’Connell street is located up towards the north side up by Parnell street – not on the more prominent south side by the GPO.
A Taxi rank is also on college green – next to Temple bar which is also reserved for the people.
Another rank by St Stephens green above Grafton street which is also reserved for the people.
So, Basically the commercial heartland of Dublin is kept and preserved for the people of Dublin and are even pedestrianised and are merely served by taxi ranks located appropriately adjacent to and not in these important commercial areas.
So, good – on Kerry County Council for reserving Denny Street and the Mall our towns important commercial areas for the people of Tralee. The taxi drivers should understand they do not own Tralee – the people of Tralee do.