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Perth taxi ranks to get stewards? Mar 18 2005
TAXI stewards could be introduced in Perth to help maintain public order at local ranks, it was revealed yesterday.
The matter, which was discussed at the latest meeting of the Taxi/Private Hire Liaison Forum, is to be raised with the police.
The meeting also debated whether temporary licences on Friday and Saturday nights would be practical, whether temporary ranks could be provided at weekends and the possibility of introducing dispersed taxi ranks and shared taxi schemes.
The forum, chaired by councillor Helen McDonald, convener of Perth and Kinross Council’s Licensing Committee, provides the opportunity for the trade to meet and discuss relevant issues with the council and the police.
“It was agreed that the matter of taxi stewards and good public order and behaviour at taxi ranks at busy times be discussed with the police in the first instance,” explained councillor Joan McEwen, vice-convener of the committee.
“The item on dispersed ranks has been referred to a working group.
“The forum decided that temporary licences wasn’t a practical or feasible suggestion, nor was the practice of formally shared taxis.
“Customers make their own informal arrangements to share taxis with friends at the end of an evening and the trade didn’t think that asking patrons to share taxis with strangers going in the same direction after a night out would be popular.
“Temporary ranks were also considered impractical and confusing but the trade believed more permanent ranks were needed.
“It was agreed that this request form part of the forthcoming City Centre Traffic Management Review.
“The forum’s response to the other issues will also be forwarded to the council’s community planning partnership.”
Councillor McEwen said that following the conclusion of the successful North Perth Traffic Management Review, the Perth City Centre Traffic Management Review had now started and letters had been sent to all councillors asking for their views.
She confirmed that there would then be “very wide consultation” with the general public.
Councillor Helen McDonald asked for a progress report on a taxi rank for Crieff and it was noted that an assessment was already underway.
Other ongoing issues such as schedule of fares boards, queue signs and lineage at taxi ranks were well in hand and would be finalised in the spring, with an independent survey of unmet demand to be commissioned on the committee’s behalf.
The forum noted that the new training course to which taxi drivers could be referred had recently been unanimously approved by the licensing committee.
The forum’s next meeting is on May 10 in the council chambers, 2 High Street, at 10am.
For further information, contact the forum’s paralegal officer, Mrs Yvonne Oliver, on 475184.
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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin
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