It's not fare!
Outrage after popular taxi rank is closed in DaventryPremium
source:
http://www.daventrytoday.co.uk/news/Its ... 5968060.jp
TAXI drivers in the town have warned their livelihoods are stake following a decision by Daventry District Council to turn down an application for a cab new rank.
The licensing committee of Daventry District Council (DDC) turned down the application for a taxi rank next to Waitrose in New Street, opposite the bus station.
It was decided at the meeting to allow taxi drivers to use it as a rank over the Christmas and New Year period but this came to an end on Monday.
The decision, which was made in November last year, is having a severe implications for the town's taxi drivers.
Mehmet Mersin, owner of MM Taxi which operates in the town, said: "When we could park there, I would make between £40 to £45 a day from taxi sales. In the past two days, I have made very little.
"It is putting my business in danger and I'm in danger of not been able to pay my mortgage and pay my bills.
"This is a decision by DDC which is crazy. I don't know why they made this decision."
"I need for that to be a taxi rank so that I can carry on making a living."
Similar concerns have been raised by other taxi drivers.
Another driver, Thevan Rasanayagan, said: "I am not making a lot of money.
"Because I can't use this rank, I have to park at another rank which is less popular.
"Other taxi drivers will now drive around the town centre and go past Tesco to see if there are any fares waiting and we go round and round the town centre until there is someone. It adds to the congestion on the road."
One taxi driver, who preferred to remain anonymous, said: "DDC told us we could use the bay up to Christmas, and today we've been told by a policeman not to use it.
"I don't know what the council is thinking.
"The lack of this rank means there is more and more traffic in New Street, which gets congested easily.
"If all of the taxis decided to come down at the same time, there would not be enough spaces for them to park."
There are currently 60 registered taxis with six ranks in the town providing space for 22 vehicles. However the taxi ranks along the High Street are closed on market days - Tuesdays and Fridays - which worsens the situation.
The application for the new rank from the local taxi community had been recommended for approval by officers from DDC arguing it would provide an increased availability of taxis in the area which would benefit people in the town including the elderly and disabled.
One of the committee members who voted against the plans believes there are more than enough spaces for the taxis.
Councillor Colin Poole, vice chairman of the licensing committee for DDC, said: "The reason for rejecting the application is that we felt as a committee that another taxi rank was not needed in the town.
"On the market day, there are other taxi ranks that are usually available.
"The taxi ranks at Foundary Place and in Tavern Lane that are not used by the taxi drivers."
However he does have sympathy for the plight of the taxi drivers.
Cllr Poole, added: "I do appreciate the situation that the taxi fraternity find themselves in.
"What they will do is bunny hop along New Street to outside the police station, then outside the pizza places, then on to Waitrose before going in to Tesco.
"They will go there because that is where the majority of their customers will come from so it is a difficult position they find themselves in."
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