"Council opposed to Taxi Monopoly" runs a story in The Connaught Telegraph this week.
Members of
Castlebar Urban Council have vehemently refused to designate the town
as a taxi pick-up only zone, because of fears of creating a monopoly
and putting hackney operators out of business. They took the decision
in the face of strong appeals by the local group, Castlebar Designated
Taxi Operators, to provide the zone in order to "protect the large
investment made by each operator in complying with the regulations."
The operators pointed out that a taxi pick-up only zone would prevent
hackneys from other towns coming in, working the area and undercutting
prices. There was obvious tension at the meeting between the taxi and
hackney operators. Mr. Eamonn Cresham, treasurer of the taxi group,
said they offered to lease taxi plates, at a cost of £50 per week, to
the 12 Castlebar-based hackney operators who had been successful in
their taxi applications. But Mr. Seamus Canning, Chairman, Castlebar
Hackney operators, stated his members refused in principle to lease
taxi plates from anybody. "We believe we are entitled to the same
asset the others received, including people from outside this town."
Mr. Canning said his group was total opposed to a taxi pick-up only
zone being designated in Castlebar as "it would take our livelihood
away." Mr. Aidan Crowley, a member of the council, said it would be
wrong of the council to underpin a monopoly. Mr. Johnny Mee,
Cathaoirleach, reassured the hackney operators they would be able to
carry out their business as usual. However, they would not be able to
use the proposed taxi
ranks when they were officially designated.
The Eight ranks now planned by Castlebar U.D.C.
Westport Road (across from the side entrance to St. Patrick's
Avenue, the town side
McHale Road (across from the entrance to
the Bowling Alley)
Market Square (in front of Castlebar Credit
Union)
Spur Road (adjacent to Dunne's Stores opposite Padraig
McHale Fashions)
Main Street (along the bridge near the former
Bolger's supermarket)
New Antrim Street (exact location not
decided)
The Mall (exact location not decided)
Spencer Street
(In front of former County Cinema)
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"Supermarket Giants Battle for Mayo Market" is one of the
articles in the The Mayo News this week.
The increasing number of European supermarket
chains entering the Irish market is beginning to impact in Mayo
with the announcement of a number of new "super stores" for Ballina
and Castlebar. In Castlebar locals are awaiting the opening of two new
supermarkets in the town. The English supermarket chain, Tesco , are
currently constructing an extensive retail outlet beside Dunne's
Stores at Market Square while a few hundred yards away, German
company, ALDI, are completing their super-store behind the Travellers
Friend Hotel. Speaking to "The Mayo News" yesterday (Tuesday), Ms.
Regina McGarrigle said most local business people were viewing the
arrival of the new supermarkets in a positive light.
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"Major Development for Saleen Area" The Mayo
News.
One of the most extensive developments to be located
in Castlebar for a number of years has been submitted for the planning
approval of Mayo County Council. The development is planned for the
Aghadrinagh-Saleen area of the town and will completely transform
nearly one hundred acres of land situated between the Castlebar-Ballinrobe
Road and the Castlebar-Westport Road. Behind the move is Saleen
Development Ltd. The ultra modern development will include a hotel,
leisure-center and business park, as well as a substantial residential
development. The hotel will comprise 108 bedrooms, and the complex
will include a swimming pool. The business park will cater for
commercial technology and service sector users and will be centred in
six separate detached buildings each 3,000 sq. meters in area.
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"Lake security cameras in place" The Mayo
News.A series of security cameras have been installed on
the Lough Lannagh lakeside walk by the Castlebar Tidy Towns Committee.
The installation of the cameras has been undertaken in order to
curtail the incidents of vandalism in the area, and to protect the
work which has been done in enhancing the area as an amenity for both
locals and visitors. The Lough Lannagh development is a major
community project which seeks to maximise the assets of the lake and
its environs for the benefit of the public. Initial reports suggest
that the security cameras are proving successful as a deterrent
against the vandalism which has been a recurring problem in the area
in recent years.
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"Taoiseach 'stands idly by' in train strike" Western People.The Taoiseach, Mr. Ahern, has been
accused of "standing idly by" as the rail dispute cripples the West of
Ireland. The charge has been laid by Deputy Michael Ring. "If the
current rail dispute was on the DART line in Dublin, and all Bertie
Aherns' friends couldn't get to work, then the Taoiseach would get
stuck into negotiations between the train drivers and Iarnrod
Eireann", said Deputy Ring. "But because it's only the poor cousins in
Westport and other tourist towns West and South that are being hit,
nobody gives a damn, least of all the man from Drumcondra." The
tourist business in the West and South of Ireland is suffering badly.
He said that places particularly badly hit by the dispute were towns
such as Westport, and also Mayo in general which is very heavily
dependent on visitor spending for its local economy. The strike is
starting to bite hard, but no one in Dublin cares.
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"35,000 make Reek Millennium climb" Western People. Organisers of the annual National
Pilgrimage to Croagh Patrick estimated that upward of thirty-five
thousand people climbed the mountain on Sunday last. People travelled
from all over the world to make the pilgrimage, including climbers
from Argentina and the U.S.A.
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