Mayo town needs transport to get people home

A DISCUSSION around getting people into and also home again from Westport has opened at a municipal district (MD) meeting.

A meeting with the regulatory authorities, council and gardaí was proposed by Councillor Brendan Mulroy who emphasised the need to have transport to get people home after a night out in the town.

Prior to their monthly MD meeting, elected members met with the gardaí and discussed parking by-laws and traffic in Westport.

Councillor Johnny O'Malley said they didn't appear to have too many problems, other than traffic flow slowing down at times.

His town colleague Councillor Brendan Mulroy said one thing that came out of their meeting with the gardaí is that Westport is a vibrant town and while it's essential to have people coming in, it's equally important to get them home again.

The town has hackneys, taxis and ubers and it's important the services are wrap-around, and they have to be part of the conversation.

People being left on the street creates problems. They need free flow in and out of town.

A conversation with the taxi regulator and transport association would be a good idea to see where they are going.

“We need to get people into town but people also need to get home,” Councillor Mulroy emphasised.

And he noted areas of growth locally, with Westport House going to expand, other hotel extensions, and the future train service connecting with Galway, and they need to have infrastructure to get people in and out.

And locally too, to get young people home safely out to Louisburgh and Kilmeena and other areas after a night out.

A conversation is needed and all the service providers need to be part of it, he said, proposing a meeting.

Councillor Mulroy stressed that they need to ensure every hackney and taxi provider is retained in Westport.

At the last election, the highest percentage of queries related to the need for these services for people to get in and out of town, he said.

They needed to bring all the stakeholders together and work together.

* Published under the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme