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RANK RUMBLINGS


SHORTAGE OF RANKS HITS WALSALL DRIVERS


Walsall taxi drivers say they are losing money because there are not enough ranks in the town for the amount of cabs.


Hackney carriage driv- ers say they have been asking Walsall Council for more ranks for more than two years, but that they have sim- ply been “ignored”. They say they are forced to queue for hours at the two main


taxi ranks in the town and wages are on a downward spiral. A taxi chief says he is at the end of his tether over the problem. Mirza Khalid, chair- man of the Hackney Carriage Association in Walsall, told the Walsall Chronicle: “They don’t have to be full-time permanent ranks, just temporary ones. There are so many taxis and just


not enough ranks. “People aren’t earning enough and drivers are selling their taxis at a rate of knots.” Transport chief Cllr Tom Ansell said: “My officers have been, and will continue to work with Mr Khalid of the Hackney Carriage Association to identify and investigate the possibilities of addi- tional ranks throughout the borough.”


LAUNCESTON’S TAXI DRIVERS UNHAPPY WITH THEIR RANK


The position of Launceston’s taxi rank has been described as dangerous by the taxi drivers of the town. The Cornish Post reports that representa- tives of Launceston’s taxi drivers spoke to Launceston councillors at the Finance and General Purposes Committee meeting held on August 5. They explained that they did not like the present position of the


taxi rank as it was dan- gerous for their passengers and the position was against the handbook regula- tions for taxis.


Preferred locations were either Barclays to the Co-Op (a current loading bay) or on the cobbles from Boots to the Co-Op.


Drivers also ex- pressed their concern and felt strongly that there were too many licences issued and


that a cap at 20 should be introduced. Cllr Colin Warne sug- gested that there should be small ranks around the town, but this option was not preferred by drivers. It was agreed that the town council would take forward these issues with Cornwall Council and that driv- ers would be included in all discussions affecting them in the future.


KETTERING FIRMS ARE SPLIT OVER PROPOSED NEW TAXI BAYS


Business owners are divided over plans for seven new taxi bays at the heart of Kettering’s nightlife scene.


The Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph reports that Kettering Council wants to replace on-street park- ing in Dalkeith Place and Silver Street with taxi bays to ease pres- sure on the proposed new bus stops in Horsemarket.


Some people working in the town’s bustling night-time economy have welcomed the plan as a boost for business.


But others claim it may result in more drink- fuelled violence as


PAGE 42


revellers fight over cabs and drive their customers away. Keith Brown, doorman at one of Kettering’s main late-opening bars, said: “It’s going to be a nightmare.” If Northamptonshire County Council were to give the plan the green light on October 21, three bays would be created outside Cocoon, formerly Coli- seum nightclub, in Silver Street.


But the owner of Zo- zo’s coffee shop in Dalkeith Place fears four bays outside her shop will mean broken windows and a drop in custom.


She said: “On Friday


night and Saturday night it’s chaos. I don’t want my windows bro- ken.”


She said replacing the parking would stop older customers who park outside popping in for a quick drink and sandwich.


Mr Brown added: “I don’t think it’s a good idea. People will spill out of the clubs and there will be fights for taxis.”


Mr Brown said KLM Taxis for who he also works as security, has to issue tickets to wait- ing customers to avoid disputes over cars. And he has called for marshals to police the new taxi bays.


CHESTER HACKNEY RANK NUMBERS TO GROW


Two new part-time hackney carriage ranks are being creat- ed in Chester city centre following a decision by Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Executive. The ranks, to be sited in Bridge Street and


Northgate Street, have room for three vehi- cles and will operate from llpm-5.30am. Executive member for community and envi- ronment Cllr Lynn Riley told the Chester Chroni- cle: “The new ranks have been created as a


result of working with the trade and from feed- back from the public. “We hope the extra provision will help more people travel safely to and from Chester to enjoy the many facilities that the city has to offer.”


PLAN FOR NEW ABERDEEN RANK WELCOMED


Nighttime safety in Aberdeen has taken another positive step forward with plans for a fourth city taxi rank. Aberdeen City Coun- cil’s licensing com- mittee has launched a formal consultation on whether to add an extra night-time rank on the southern side of Castle Street, oppo- site the city’s sheriff court. An informal look at the idea raised one objection with worries about litter and van- dalism near the court. The committee heard installing the extra


night-time rank would cost about £12,000 - mainly for a lit night- time taxi sign, upgrades to a CCTV camera and street signs to the new rank. Chairman of Aberdeen Taxi Group Russell McLeod said it would be money well spent as the existing ranks had been a great success. And he said the new rank would be in an ideal location to help the management of people leaving night- time venues at that eastern end of Union Street. He told the


Aberdeen Citizen: “The rank on that side of the road will be better served by cars coming from King Street.” The nighttime taxi ranks were introduced in 2009 to help offi- cials manage revellers heading home.


As further recognition of how successful the scheme has been, the licensing committee has also backed plans for the night-time taxi ranks to be used every night from midnight to 5am instead of just on Saturday and Sunday mornings.


PRESTON TAXI BOSSES IN BID FOR MORE 24-HOUR RANKS


Calls have been made for more 24-hour taxi ranks in Preston city centre to solve prob- lems with illegal ranking.


Drivers have asked for three existing ranks to be made available round-the-clock. They have suggested the O’Neill’s rank in Friargate, the one at the student union in Fylde Road and the rank outside Yates’s in Church Street.


They would also like to see ‘unofficial’ ranks close to the Assembly pub in Lune Street and the Dog and Partridge in Friargate, turned into permanent fixtures. Mark Selley, secretary of the Preston Hack- ney Carriage Asso-


ciation; and the Bolton, Bury and Pre- ston Hackney Carriage Association, along with drivers who rank at the railway station, met with county coun- cil bosses last month. Mr Selley said there were areas of the city centre where rank pro- vision was “appalling” and pointed to a “chronic shortage” at the railway station. He told the Lancashire Evening Post: “We sug- gested a couple of ranks which are already nighttime ranks becoming 24-hour ranks which is com- mon in a lot of cities. “We know the county council has got to achieve a balance between what the pub-


lic requires and the impact on the public purse.


“It went very well and it could turn out to be a very productive meet- ing.”


Phil Barrett, director of environmental and pub- lic protection services at the county council, said: “We have agreed to look at the associa- tions’ proposals. “We’ll examine what they’ve suggested to see if we can come up with some practical solutions and have agreed to meet again in a few weeks’ time.” In the meantime, county council bosses have been invited on a “site visit” with drivers to see the situation first hand.


PHTM NOVEMBER 2010


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