Taxi Driver Online

Cirencester Christmas market comes under fire by taxi driver

A TAXI driver may claim loss of earnings against Cirencester Town Council after taxi ranks were forced to set up shop elsewhere to make way for the Christmas market. Taxi ranks in the town centre have been tranferred to the Forum Car Park, in South Way, as Market Place is closed to traffic until December 19 while the Christmas market is underway.

Independent taxi driver John Cox has made a formal complaint to the council and says not only have his earnings suffered but elderly and disabled passengers have not been able to make the distance to the town centre.

He said: "The provision in place for independent drivers to ply their trade whilst the Christmas market is ongoing is, to say the least, abysmal. "By closing Market Place completely, the council has effectively taken away my livelihood during the busiest three weeks of the year for taxi trade."

He added that the council had shown a "total disregard" for elderly and infirm passengers by "banishing" taxi ranks to the car park, making these customers travel further. If the council does not improve provision for taxi drivers, Mr Cox said he would submit an invoice for loss of earnings.

Town council chief executive Andrew Tubb said because a formal complaint had been made he could not provide a specific response, however, he did make general points related to Mr Cox's concerns.

"We have ensured local people are aware of the temporary changes to buses and taxis and we circulated information to all retailers, businesses and residents in Market Place.

"Whilst I accept we did not directly contact every taxi driver or firm that operates in and around the Market Place, we have been in consultation with the district council, working closely with the parking and licensing services who would be in fairly regular contact with all local taxi drivers.

"The town council has acted responsibly in finding and funding an alternative taxi rank as close to Market Place as possible."

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