RANK RUMBLINGS RANK BAD FOR TRADE SAY FURIOUS CORNWALL CABBIES
Frustrated cabbies in Liskeard say they feel they are banging their heads against a brick wall after being told nothing can be done to stop motorists clog- ging their taxi ranks. Grayson Mitchell, owner of Express Taxis, said a host of vehicles had been the cause of the trouble. After approaching a civil enforcement offi- cer last month, Mr Mitchell was told that no enforcement could be taken on non-taxi vehicles parked in the ranks.
Mr Mitchell told the Cornish Guardian: “I think it’s absolutely ridiculous. We are paying extortionate fees to Cornwall Coun-
cil and the one thing we get back is the taxi ranks. I can say in the last 18 months the taxi fleet in the town has doubled. The council is taking our fees but is not giving us the extra facilities; we have no rank space. “I’ve always been led to understand nobody can park on the taxi ranks apart from licensed taxis. It is not good enough.”
Mr Mitchell said he made the council aware of this situation in 2006, yet nothing has been done. The rank on The Parade, which has space for three taxis, was due to be extended but plans were put off in 2009. When used by three
cabs, one vehicle has to mount the pave- ment to get into the rank, which is becom- ing more difficult when non-taxi vehicles take up valuable space. Cornwall Council said some of the ranks were not enforceable due to signage and incorrect lines and funding was being sought to rectify it. Mmm… under section 64 LGMPA 1976 it is an offence for any vehicle other than a VOSA- licensed PSV to wait on a taxi rank. Signs or no signs, taxi ranks are for taxis only; funding for the upkeep of the ranks should come from taxi licensing fees, and enforcement is down to the council. – Ed.
SOUTH TYNESIDE DRIVERS WIN ‘SMALL VICTORY’
Cabbies in South Tyneside have won a small victory in the war against drivers pinch- ing their parking spots. Three people have been served with a £35 fixed penalty notice for parking in the rank at Sunderland Road in South Shields, after 6pm. Taxi driver Terry Smith and his pals had had enough of delivery drivers, from many of the area’s takeaways, using their rank to park while they col- lected orders.
Mr Smith and his fel- low taxi drivers pay more than £300 in licensing fees each a year to be able to park at the rank, and they were fed up of having to go elsewhere.
But last month, traffic wardens were out in force and caught three people in the act, as well as moving many more on.
Cllr Rob Dix, the area’s Labour representative on the council, told the Shields Gazette: “The wardens were out and fined three people. They will, hopefully, know better than to park there again. “We’re getting there at last. The numbers might be small, but if people realise they will be caught, it will hope- fully act as a deterrent and they will think twice before parking there again. It’s been a small victory.” However, the parking saga continues as res- idents who live in the
flats next to the rank have revealed their frustration at not being able to park outside their own homes. One said: “We can’t park outside our homes because of the sign stating it’s a taxi rank.
“There are two spaces at the other end of the rank but they are limit- ed to 6pm until 10am, so if we are lucky enough to get these spaces, we still have to move the car. “We’ve all had parking tickets outside our own homes.” Council- lor Dix has agreed it is a problem which needs looking at. Mmm... when is a rank not a rank? The situa- tion does indeed need looking at. - Ed
BIG BROTHER CCTV TO CATCH ILLEGAL PARKERS IN CHESTER
Motorists who regular- ly flout the law and park in taxi rank bays are set to be targeted by big brother-style cameras.
A number of hotspots in Chester and Ellesmere Port have been identi- fied following com- plaints from cabbies. Over the past few weeks, Cheshire West and Chester Council have dispatched three
CCTV vehicles to moni- tor the activity and catch offending motorists. Cllr Lynn Riley, execu- tive member for community and envi- ronment, told the Chester Leader: “The thoughtlessness of some motorists park- ing in taxi bays means the ranks can’t be used by taxi drivers. This is turn makes it harder for passengers to hail and
use taxis safely.”
The three vehicles all use environmentally friendly ‘eco-flex’ tech- nology to ensure low carbon emissions. A CWaC spokesman said in the initial stages motorists caught parking illegal- ly would be given a warning. Drivers still flouting the law after an introductory period would be penalised.
EXETER RANKS COULD BE SHUT OR REDUCED IN SIZE
Taxi drivers have been giving their reactions to plans which could see the number of ranks reduced in the city. Under proposals being mooted by Exeter City Council, some ranks could be reduced in size while busy areas could be extended. A report into the mat- ter was to be considered at a meet- ing of the authority’s licensing committee.
In the review the com- mittee will be told there are 66 taxi stands currently used and the busiest are at Central Station and in Sidwell Street.
Ranks which could close include North Street, the top end of South Street and Mary Arches.
The review was car- ried out to assess the demand for ranks and cabs. The survey also
includes provision in cabs for wheelchair passengers and whether it is being met fully.
Cabbie Ali Tameem told the Express and Echo: “I think any extension of the busy ranks will be good for us. But I hope they don’t carry out too many closures, though some in the city like North Street are hardly used.”
WALSALL DRIVERS SAY TAXI REQUEST STILL IGNORED
Taxi drivers in the Black Country say they are losing money because there are not enough taxi ranks in the town.
They say they have been asking Walsall Council for more ranks in the town for more than two years, but that they have simply 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. Mirza Khalid, chair- man of the Hackney Carriage Association in Walsall, told the Express and Star: “They don’t have to be full-time permanent ranks, just temporary ones. There are so many taxis and just not enough ranks.” He said drivers had asked for talks with Tesco over a possible rank at the new devel- opment under con-
struction in Littleton Street West, and for possible ranks in Ablewell Street and Station Street, but to no avail. Cllr Tom Ansell, cabi- net member for transport at Walsall Council, said: “My offi- cers have been, and will continue to work with Mr Khalid to iden- tify and investigate the possibilities of addi- tional ranks through- out the borough.”
PAGE 18
PHTM OCTOBER 2010
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