A ROW has broken out in Listowel over the introduction of a one-way traffic system in the town for a trial period in an effort to solve the town's chronic traffic jams.

The local Urban Council although only involved in the system on a consultation basis — the Garda Commissioner has the final say — were attacked by a Church Street trader, one of 43 residents and traders in the street who are objecting to the system.

Mr. Xavier McAuliffe accused the councillors of "sitting on their asses and letting everybody else do their job for them".

And there is a suggestion that "strong action" will be taken if the system is introduced.

But Listowel Traders' Association chairman Mrs. Nora Canty denies that there is a row. Following a meeting of her associations on Tuesday she told The Kerryman that they had adopted no official policy on the new traffic proposals. She denied there was "any such thing as a row".

Said Mrs. Canty: "As the meeting there was no particular criticism from any street. Members from Church Street were present."

It is understood that a further meeting of the traders' association will be held to study in detail the proposed one-way system in Listowel.

However, 43 people either trading or living in Church Street say they are not happy with the proposed plan. The traders fear that the proposals, if implemented, will take away their livelihood.

The row over the one-way system surfaced at last week's meeting of the Urban Council when a letter from Church Street residents and traders, bearing 43 signatures was read out. At the same time the objectors surprised the councillors by obtaining details of the proposed scheme and a copy of the relevant map when they were not yet supposed to have been released publicly.