ONE taxi driver has hit out at South Ayrshire Council following the Ayr Advertiser’s article last week regarding the Smith Street taxi chaos.

Last week we reported on the ‘disaster waiting to happen’. The one way system, which has been in place for some time, is supposed to allow traffic access to the railway station or act as a right of way onto the A70 but drivers feel that this is not always as straight forward as it looks.

Many can be spotted parking on the other side of the road, opposite the taxis, on double yellow lines. Community councillors of Fort, Seafield and Wallacetown, met at Ayr Town Hall two weeks ago to discuss the ongoing issue.

At the meeting Chris Campbell said: “Smith Street is congested with taxis. In the olden days they were smaller. Now they are bigger and take up more space.”

However, after reading the article, hackney driver Jim Wilson got in contact to give his side of the story and he believes the council are to blame.
He said: “We have to pay £200 for a space a year.

“This is a neglect of duties from South Ayrshire Council for providing a lack of spaces but are more than happy to take the money for the spaces.

“Would love to know why South Ayrshire Council fail to provide us with more spaces that makes us have to park on double yellow lines.

“I don’t disagree with anything the article says, but the situation is more than what meets the eye.

“Where are we meant to park?”

Ralph Riddiough, Head of Legal and Democratic Services at South Ayrshire Council said:

“South Ayrshire Council is aware of issues with congestion on Smith Street, and have been in discussions with the Ayrshire Roads Alliance and Police Scotland regarding this. 

“The taxi trade are welcome to raise issues regarding taxi ranks through the Taxi Operators Forum.”