RANK RUMBLINGS
Once again our Rank stories abound… we could have filled far more space, but the theme is similar throughout the country: not enough rank spaces for too many taxis, simple as that. The other recurring theme is the old gem about buck-passing: the district council says it’s down to Highways to look after taxi ranks; Highways (County Council) says it’s the responsibility of the local authority. End result: nothing gets done. To everyone who contacts the Association about this, we say the same: arrange a site visit for all the ‘interested’ parties to see firsthand what problems exist – but make sure they are indeed interested.
CRAWLEY DRIVERS WELCOME PLAN FOR MORE RANKS
Crawley Hackney Car- riage Association has approached Crawley Borough Council to consider additional taxi ranks. A report by the head of planning and environ- mental services at the council, Angela Tan- ner, said there was 123 licensed hackney car- riages which use five ranks within the bor- ough of Crawley, providing 38 spaces. Ryan Grice, vice-chair- man
of Crawley Hackney Carriage
Association, told the Crawley Observer: “There just aren’t enough rank spaces – especially in the High Street at night time. It’s a step in the right direction.” Crawley
Borough
Council and West Sus- sex County Council had identified three poten- tial sites: ten spaces outside Sussex House (temporary until devel- opment of the site), five spaces outside Lloyds TSB and four spaces in Queensway.
The council report
said: “Additional taxi ranks should provide enhanced customer care to the paying public, including per- sons with walking difficulties.” Chief Inspector Steve Curry, based at Craw- ley Police Station, has raised no objections to the three sites being made into taxi ranks. The council’s icensing Committee has been recommended to ap- prove the proposed locations.
SWALE DRIVERS START PETITION FOR MORE SPACES AT TOWN’S RANKS
A petition to increase the number of taxi ranks in Sittingbourne has been started. Cab driver Wynn Gra- ham-Walker,
who
instigated the cam- paign, says there are not enough places for drivers to wait and pick up fares. She also claims official pick-up points have been omitted from the regeneration plans for the area. She told the Kent Mes- senger: “There are about 135 licensed hackney carriages in Swale but only 35 offi- cial
spaces in
Sittingbourne. On the regeneration plans I noticed there were no taxi ranks. Where are we meant to go?”
Drivers also say they are experiencing prob- lems with traffic wardens. In the past, cars seen parked out- side the marked bays at the rear of Wilkin- sons and the train station have either been ignored or told to move on. But since the new parking manage- ment firm APCOA took over in July last year drivers have been hit with £60 fines. Wynn, who works for The White Cab Co, added: “There’s only room for nine taxis behind Wilkinson’s and it’s meant to hold 18 to 19 at the station. There’s nowhere else to go really. “It’s taking away our liberty to work when
work has already decreased because of the recession.” Swale Council says as a result of the con- cerns raised it now plans to provide addi- tional spaces at the rear of Wilkinson’s. A spokesman said: “It is too early to be pre- cise on the exact number of spaces, that will be consulted on as part of the plan- ning process. But we will try to fit as many spaces as possible without causing an obstruction to deliver- ies in the area. “As far as regeneration is concerned, taxis will certainly form part of the planned ‘transport hub’ in front of the sta- tion.”
BARNARD CASTLE CABBIES FUMING OVER CLOSURE OF RANK
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Taxi drivers in Barnard Castle are furious after their rank was closed without warning - a move they say has lost them money and put customers in danger. The cabbies say the situation has meant they have had to park on double yellow lines 70 yards away be- cause the authorities have offered them no alternative. The rank outside Mor- risons was blocked off when the fair arrived in the car park near the supermarket. Andrew Hinchcliffe, of Pitstop Taxis, told the Teesdale Mercury: “No one has got in touch to tell us what was hap- pening and we’re losing money because our customers don’t know where we are. We’ve had to park out- side the pet shop but that’s really not ideal. Buses are struggling to get
through, we’re
blocking in parked cars and it’s dangerous for customers.
“I’ve got the only
wheelchair accessible taxi in Barnard Castle but I wouldn’t even attempt
to get the
ramp out in the middle of the road because with all the traffic and buses,
someone
would get killed.” Durham County Coun- cil created a taxi rank outside Morrisons in 2009. In the past it has been closed for the fair, but last year taxi drivers complained about
the situation.
They said they were told the problem would be resolved this year. Mr Hinchcliffe added: “No one at the council seems to want to take responsibility. I rang them up but they said it was the highways’ responsibility. I called them but they said to contact taxi licensing but they said it was the council’s responsibili- ty. It’s ridiculous.” The cabbies said the rank should have been kept open, with a one- way through route
created while the fair was in town. “Delivery drivers and the postman are allowed to drive through, so why can’t we?” asked Mr Hinch- cliffe. There is another taxi rank, near NatWest on Horsemarket, but that only operates in the evening. In the day, the spaces there are occupied by parked cars. Residents have also contacted the Mercury to complain about the closure of the rank, saying it was affecting elderly and disabled people. Durham County Coun- cil said the decision to close the rank was taken by a safety advi- sory committee, which is chaired by the police. A council spokesman said the closure would have been made with peo- ple’s safety in mind but that it would be more appropriate for the police to comment.
PHTM JULY 2012
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