'It’s a disgrace what they’re doing': Council votes to reduce taxi ranks on Cork's St Patrick's Street

Taxi rank near Merchant’s Quay will be reduced from a seven-vehicle maximum to two vehicles, while two-taxi rank near junction with Bowling Green Street to be suspended

'We'll try new things out over a 12-month period and keep an open survey for people to continually give feedback,' said Green Party councillor Oliver Moran. File picture: Larry Cummins

Taxi ranks on St Patrick's Street in Cork City are set to be reduced in favour of seating and planting as part of a pilot scheme aimed at improving the area. 

The taxi rank near Merchant’s Quay will be reduced from a seven-vehicle maximum to two vehicles, from 37.5m to 12m.

The two-taxi rank on the western side of the road, near the junction with Bowling Green Street, is to be suspended for a minimum of 12 months and a maximum of 18 months.

The six-space taxi rank near the junction with Maylor Street will move near the former Debenhams store.

Cork City Council voted on the move at its meeting this week.

Green Party councillor Oliver Moran said: “A vote of council was required on changes to the taxi ranks, but the wider context is about giving the city centre directorate a free hand to develop ideas with the new city centre committee and rapidly try them out.

“We've all had experience of public consultations across the city, where it can be very hard to imagine change.” 

“A new 'consultation-by-doing' approach, like is being taken with Patrick's Street, allows us to see what works, get feedback on it, and change it again if needs be," said Mr Moran. 

"We'll try new things out over a 12-month period and keep an open survey for people to continually give feedback.” 

Sinn Féin councillor Joe Lynch said he and his party colleagues would not be supporting the motion as taxi drivers were opposed to the changes.

He told the Irish Examiner: “We all want to see a better city centre, and changes delivered to Patrick Street, but this must be done in a planned, sensible way and it’s regrettable that the council have not brought taxi drivers along with them through further engagement.

In particular, the removal of the shelter at the taxi rank outside Dunnes will have a big impact on older people.

The proposal secured 22 votes in favour and four against.

Derry Coughlan of the Cork Taxi Association said: “It’s a disgrace what they’re doing, interfering with very important taxi ranks that are used as shelter for women and children, people in wheelchairs.

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“Taxis are essential services, they take you places no other transport takes you”, he said.

“The work that they intend on doing on Patrick Street will be of no benefit to anybody, they want to put in places to sit down but it will be filled with all the down and outs, people will be scared. It’s unnecessary expense.”