ROUND THE COUNCILS NEWCASTLE:
POSSIBLE STATION RANK RELOCATION
Newcastle City Council intends to relocate a taxi rank to the front of the station, where the short-stay car park is currently located. The switch could mean cabs queuing up Bewick Street to join the new rank. Under multi-million pound plans for a major redesign of Newcastle train sta- tion, taxis would no longer queue down the Orchard Street tunnel – which was named as the most polluted street in the city last year. The possible move has sparked con- cerns that residents will be forced to put
up with extra noise nuisance and air pollution outside their windows at all times of the day and night. The Orchard Street tunnel would then be pedestrianised under the station redesign plans, with the short-stay car park moved into the current long-stay car park to the east of the station. ChronicleLive re- ports that building work is expected to start later this year on the first stages of the station revamp, which will also cre- ate two new ent- rances to the station and could pave the
way for a new multi- storey car park on the Forth Goods Yard. However, the council said it will consult on future changes to the road network outside the station and wants to look at a “range of options” for taxi rank loca- tions, though bosses admit cabs will need to use Bewick Street for access. A council spokes- person said: “We have consulted ex- tensively about improvements being made inside the Central Station, including the grant- ing of listed building consent.
States of Guernsey has reviewed repre- sentations from the taxi industry and has agreed to provide financial support for taxis until the end of September. The trade continues to be heavily im- pacted by the lack of visitors to the island as a result of ongoing border controls. Through the payroll co-funding scheme,
those who demon- strate their business is being impacted can apply for 80 per cent or 100 per cent of the minimum wage for employees (or for themselves if they are self- employed), which is a continuation of the rules that applied up until June. Policy & Resources vice-president Lyn- don Trott said: “We
STATES OF GUERNSEY: FINANCIAL HELP TO LAST UNTIL SEPTEMBER
know there are some taxi and pri- vate car drivers who are very reliant on trade from both inbound and out- bound holiday- makers as well as business travellers. “We’re already sup- porting other sec- tors that depend on visitors and it’s only appropriate that taxi drivers receive the same support.”
NORTH LANARKSHIRE: COUNCILLORS JOIN SCHOOL CONTRACTS ROW
North Lanarkshire’s two largest political parties have now been drawn into the row over school taxi contracts. As previously re- ported in PHTM, taxi operators had hit out at North Lanark- shire Council for paying them 20 per cent on the contract rather than the agreed 75 per cent. North Lanarkshire SNP’s education spokesperson Agnes Magowan said: “According to the Scottish Govern- ment schools are hopefully starting up fully on August 11. If taxi companies have gone out of business will there be enough service to cover all the home to school contracts? “It is not only num- bers I am concerned about. Youngsters with additional sup- port needs often build up a relation- ship with their taxi
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operator who be- comes skilled in supporting the par- ticular needs of the child and their par- ents or carers. I would be extremely worried if we lost this expertise. “I would urge both the council and the Labour administra- tion to review this arbitrary decision immediately and provide this work- force with a fair and balanced settlement in line with the pre- viously confirmed 75 per cent. “I hope the council will ensure that taxi companies have enough funds to remain in business to honour their con- tracts from August 11 or this will be an additional challenge.” A Labour Group spokesperson said: “It’s worrying to see that the SNP is seek- ing to overturn con- tractual decisions of the council. This
goes against estab- lished best practice on how elected members should conduct themselves. “Taxi drivers should be accessing the SEISS which allows them to continue to operate at the same time. “Our council staff are working round the clock to support all workers in North Lanarkshire and the SNP should concen- trate their time on supporting our staff as best they can.” A council spokes- person added: “We are currently plan- ning for schools returning as normal, which will include a detailed assessment of transport needs. We will soon updat- ing contract inform- ation to transport providers once we have confirmation of guidance on social distancing and health and safety matters on school transport.”
AUGUST 2020
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