York taxi drivers keep up Duncombe Place rank pressure
http://www.thepress.co.uk/news/4214750.York_taxi_drivers_keep_up_Duncombe_Place_rank_pressure/
TAXI drivers have vowed to continue their battle to reopen a 24-hour rank they claim is “the safest in York” despite the city’s civic leaders rejecting their appeals.
City of York Council has turned down calls from York Taxi Association (YTA) to allow the facility in Duncombe Place to operate round the clock, having instead chosen to look at potential alternatives in the city centre.
But drivers say they plan to keep up the pressure on the authority to bring the rank back into 24-hour use, claiming it is necessary to cater for demand and offer customers the safest and most well-lit option when they seek a taxi.
Its opening hours were cut to between 7.30am and 10pm two years ago, following complaints to the council from the nearby Dean Court Hotel and local residents about night-time noise from taxi queues.
The authority’s city strategy panel has now decided to retain these times, but says it will listen to suggestions from the YTA about how other late-night city ranks could operate and what improvements could be made to them.
However, Graham Phillips, the taxi organisation’s secretary, said drivers – 175 of whom united to call for 24-hour opening at Duncombe Place – were still intent on changing the council’s mind.
Their other proposals include re-opening a St Sampson’s Square rank and a new site in Lendal between 7pm and 3am, creating a part-time rank in Station Rise, providing more spaces for taxis outside the public toilets in Exhibition Square and moving the Rougier Street rank to the opposite side of the road from its current location.
Mr Phillips said: “We’re very disappointed at the Duncombe Place decision, because we feel it means people’s safety is being compromised. Customers regard it as the safest rank in York and there have been no complaints about noise and disturbance in recent years.
“With more taxis in York, we also need this rank space to avoid having to drive round the city creating more carbon emissions.
“If Duncombe Place closes at 10pm customers are going to have to go to other ranks which they don’t consider to be as safe, such as St Saviourgate. This issue will not go away.”
Coun Ian Gillies, chair of the city strategy panel, said: “We are trying to work with taxi drivers to provide extra ranks in York, and when this is brought forward we can look at the impact on Duncombe Place.
“There is no point changing the time Duncombe Place opens at the moment, when we are looking to bring other options to the table.”
Council officers will now be asked to draw up proposals for potential alternative late-night ranks, and to consult with drivers over the exercise.
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