Twelve extra taxi rank spaces will be marked out around Athlone town

Twelve new taxi rank spaces will be created at six loading bays around the town of Athlone for use between 7pm and 7am by early March while new markings and signage for extra taxi ranks have also to be put in place. Last December, Athlone Town Council amended bye-laws to allow for the creation of the new taxi spaces on public roads in the town. The new bye-laws bring the total number of taxi spaces in the town up to 51. However, the money needed to mark out these new ranks was only provided in this year's council budget under the Town Engineer's programme and some have yet to be marked out. There are supposed to be a total of 27 permanent taxi spaces on public roads, at Church Street (6 spaces), Barrack Street (2), Southern Station Road (9), Sean Costello St (3), Athlone IT (3), St Mary's Place (3) and Connaught Street (1). In addition, 12 spaces are in place at private taxi ranks in Golden Island (9) and Arcadia Business Park (3). Some local taxi drivers have complained that some of the permanent appointed stands on public roads do not exist, mainly six slots at Athlone IT and St Mary's Place. But when the road markings and signage is provided, then these new ranks will come into force. According to Town Clerk John Walsh, until these spaces are correctly marked, taxis cannot use them as a rank. Meanwhile, to cope with the demand for taxi spaces at night time, the council is also providing two taxi spaces from 7pm to 7am at the loading bays located in Connaught Street, St Peter's Square, Main Street, Custume Place, Church Street and Mardyke Street. "There's 120 taxis working in Athlone, there will never be enough spaces," said Cllr Kevin 'Boxer' Moran who also runs a taxi company in the town. "We don't have the spaces as a council to give to taxis. The council controlled the taxi licences before the regulator but now she's giving out plates and not looking to see the need in the town."