TAXI drivers fear “no-one is listening” when they warn about mounting traffic problems in Donegal’s largest town.
The Donegal News has highlighted for several weeks repeated instances in Letterkenny when road users have complained of chronic problems.
Businesses have issued warnings and both Letterkenny Chamber of Commerce and Donegal County Council said they are aware of concerns.
Letterkenny Cabs managing director Shaun Gallagher has now accused some authorities of failing the public.
He fears that the summer traffic congestion in Letterkenny is a signal that the usual winter gridlock is going to be worse than ever.
Shaun Gallagher is managing director of Letterkenny Cabs.
And he has warned that the town’s traffic problems are so acute that because the annual summer respite when schools are closed did not materialise, he fears that the unfolding situation may bring matters to “breaking point” in the coming months.
Mr Gallagher has spoken out in this newspaper, has gone on local radio, and has written letters to Donegal County Council to express his concerns.
In a letter to the council, he wrote: “Despite repeated recognition of congestion problems in the area over many years, the pace of infrastructure delivery has not matched the needs of the growing population, businesses, and transport services that rely on the road network.”
But the taxi firm boss believes “these concerns have fallen on deaf ears.”
Taxis pictured at the rank near Station Roundabout in Letterkenny.
He told the Donegal News: “No-one is listening. I think that they think that they’re answerable to nobody.
“Not one councillor contacted me to hear what taxi drivers have to say. We are left to our own devices, so I do not know what is going to happen.
“The public has been let down and many people are frustrated. We are going to reach breaking point.
“I can’t see people protesting on the street. Someone would need to organise that, but I do not want to take that on.”
He added: “Transport operators will want to keep going. We didn’t have respite from traffic during the summer, especially in August.
“There was a window from 10am to 12pm midday for local businesses get around Letterkenny, but businesses then had to wait until evenings for getting things done because daytime traffic was so bad.
“If we needed to drop a car to a garage, we couldn’t do it during the day.”
Several taxi spaces have been moved from Market Square in Letterkenny.
A taxi rank at Market Square in Letterkenny provided several spaces but this has been moved as part of Donegal County Council’s regeneration strategy to transform the town centre.
Mr Gallagher complained: “Taxis had seven spaces at Market Square, but these were removed. They were to replaced, but they haven’t been.
“Some people do not know that they cannot now be picked up at Market Square.
“We are still getting calls from people, saying they are waiting at that rank. Taxi drivers feel that things are not being handled right.
“I’m disappointed, I think it’s shocking. Taxi drivers work extremely hard.
“We need answers, but the people who have them seem to think that they are answerable to nobody.”
The Donegal News asked Donegal County Council for comment.
A spokesperson said: “The taxi rank is being temporarily moved to lower Main Street as a continuation of the existing taxi rank.
“On completion of the works, the taxi rank will return to the area in front of the Market [Square].”