Westmoreland taxi operators prepared to work with relocated transportation centre

WESTERN BUREAU

Route taxi and bus operators in Westmoreland have welcomed the relocation of the Savanna-la-Mar-based public transportation centre from Barracks Road to Beckford Street.

“We just have to move with the programme because there is no other location where they could operate the transportation centre. It is smaller than where we are now, however, we all have to make it work so that we can continue to carry out our business in an orderly manner, said Paul Maitland, president of the Westmoreland Taxi Association.

Maitland was responding to a public notice from the Mayor Danree Delancy-led Westmoreland Municipal Corporation (WMC), informing residents and public transport operators that the transportation centre will return to its original location across from QQ Bar and Gaming Lounge on April 26.

“ The Westmoreland Municipal Corporation wishes to inform the general public and all public transport operators that effective Monday, April 29, 2024, the transportation centre on Barracks Road will be relocated to 62 Beckford Street, Savanna-la-Mar, beside Tanker Plaza ... .” the WMC notice read.

In a Gleaner interview, Delancy, chairman of the WMC and mayor of Savanna-la-Mar said the relocation became necessary as the property owner from whom they had rented the facility ended the approximately 20-year-old rental arrangement.

He said the corporation received notice to vacate the property about two years ago and that even with an extended grace period a search for other suitable properties to facilitate the operations of the transformation centre turned up empty.

“Where we are going is where we left from to where we are now,” Delancy said of the Beckford Street property.

“The Barracks Road location is more spacious, but because we were unable to find other suitable space within the town we have to go back to Beckford Street, which is our property,” Delancy said.

“At no particular time you will have all the taxis and all the buses in the space at any one given time,” Delancy argued. He reasoned that “some will be on the road going to their destination, some will be on the road coming towards the transportation centre. So we are seeing wherein it can work and to be quite frank, we have no other choice at this time.”

Delancy said public passenger vehicle operators have since expressed concerns about the traffic flow from the drive-through at Juicy Patties restaurant, which enters from Beckford Street, which is a few metres away from the entrance and exit of where the new transportation will be located.

“We have spoken with the operators of Juicy Beef and they are to re-route their drive-through from inside the Beckford Plaza, which was the original agreement,” the mayor said.

He said the Beckford Street space is currently being rehabilitated including ensuring that water and electricity are available, and the provision of amenities to facilitate an orderly run transportation centre. The property is also being retrofitted with bathroom facilities.

Admittedly, Delancy said going forward the corporation will have added funds available to carry out other municipal works for and on behalf of the people of the parish now that they would have stopped paying rent for the property currently in use .

“One advantage is that we will save some money,” he said.

Reports are that up to last month, the WMC had been paying more than $300,000 monthly in rent to operate the Savanna-la-Mar Public Transportation Centre at Barracks Road.

The mayor said that both the police and the transport authority have signed off on the facility with the support of taxi and bus operators and the commuting public.