Taxi Driver Online

Keighley town centre restaurant owner hits out in Church Street taxi parking row


A KEIGHLEY town centre trader says the number of taxis using the narrow road outside his restaurant and takeaway is “suffocating” his business.

Al Mirzaali, who owns the Ranch Company that includes Alfe’s restaurant in Church Street, said the problem was getting worse, despite his complaints.

“There are three taxi firms within about 20 yards of my businesses,” he said. “The taxis are blocking my entrance and my potential customers, who pass by and see there is nowhere to park so won’t come here.

“People can’t park near my businesses when they come to pick up food – they’re having to park half-a-mile away.

“On top of that, I’ve lost tenants [from the flats above the restaurant] who’ve complained about car horns beeping at two or three in the morning.

“I understand that might not be the taxis, but it’s other motorists who are trying to get past the parked cars. It’s bedlam.

“I’ve lost four or five tenants because of this. One of them told me he loved the flat and loved being in the town centre, but he’d had enough of car horns beeping so early in the morning.”

Mr Mirzaali added: “I’ve tried talking to the taxi drivers. I’ve tried being reasonable and friendly, but it’s like talking to a brick wall. They’ll even park up and fall asleep in the car. They are just selfish.

“The taxi companies should only be allowed to have one or two vehicles maximum waiting at their base.”

The three private hire companies with bases on or near Church Green are Metro, Apple Cars and 1st Choice.

Stuart Hastings, of Metro, responded that his company had been in Church Green a long time before Mr Mirzaali’s businesses, adding there had been no problems prior to Bradford Council allowing the other two taxi firms to move in.

“Because the council has allowed these other firms it is like ‘taxi alley’ here,” he said.

“At Metro, we do try our best not to cause any obstruction, especially in the evening, and we definitely don’t park across his entrance.”

Ansar Mahmood, who owns Apple Cars, said: “One of the conditions of our licence means we’re only allowed to park one car at a time in Church Street, and that’s what we do.

“We never park two or more of our cars there at the same time, and I tell my drivers not to park there.”

No one from 1st Choice had responded by the time the Keighley News went to press.

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