Taxi Driver Online

A CAMPAIGN has been launched to fight the building of a taxi booking office in Westhoughton — even though it has been given approval.

Residents fear the Star cars private hire call centre in Market Street will create noise and anti-social behaviour in the area.

Locals were only alerted to the development when a series of fake letters and petitions against the plans were submitted under their names.

The plans were given approval by Bolton Council’s planning department in May this year and the objections, which were received after the decision, were dismissed.

But residents have now launched a genuine campaign against the building development.

Natalie Marlow, of Pavillion Gardens, which is behind the site, was shocked when a petition was launched in her name.

She said: “These letters are still circulating and I’ve no idea where they’re coming from.

“I’m not happy they used my name and address but if they hadn’t, I wouldn’t have known anything about the building until it was up and running and taxis were coming and going and keeping me up all night.

“Everyone wants to move now. It’s an absolute nightmare.”

Residents are concerned there will be up to 60 cars operating from the building.

Bolton Council said it is aware of the fake letters but the creator is unknown.

Westhoughton councillor David Wilkinson said: “Information has been sent out in other people’s names.

“Either this is taxi wars, or someone is just stirring trouble.”

The saga began in 2006 when a similar application for a taxi centre two doors away, behind Little Italy takeaway, was refused planning permission.

Star Cars won its bid under delegated powers and Westhoughton Town Council supported the application.

When Miss Marlow revealed she did not launch the petition, letters starting appearing under the false name of “Mr Lamb, of Edward Street”.

Later they were signed “On behalf of local residents of Pavillion Gardens, Edward Street and Wood Street” but the residents there knew nothing about them. Cllr Wilkinson said if the taxi firm starts picking up clients from Market Street, or parking on the site, it will be breaching the planning conditions. Another taxi firm, 401, are also said to be moving into the booking office once its up and running.

A Bolton Council spokesman said: “We are aware of a number of anonymous and fake letters objecting to the application. These cannot be taken into regard as the application has already been determined and they are false representations.”

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