Taxi Driver Online

NEW TAXI RANKS TO END CABBIE ABUSE

Three extra taxi ranks could be created in Hanley to help prevent cabbies being attacked by drunken pub-goers. The pick-up spots may be set up to give taxi drivers a temporary reprieve from a growing tirade of abuse at the Stafford Street rank, which has seen some quitting nightshifts.

And as a long-term solution to the problem, Stoke-on-Trent City Council is considering a request to install a CCTV camera dedicated to covering the troublespot.

Extra ranks would give drinkers emerging from pubs and clubs more places to get a ride home, resulting in the spreading out of crowds at closing time.

At present, crowds converge on the Stafford Street rank, often resulting in fights as people scramble to get a lift. It is understood the new locations could include Pall Mall and New Hall Street, outside the Tesco store.

The city council proposed the idea during a meeting with police and members of Stoke-on-Trent's Hackney Carriage Association (HCA).

Drivers had stressed how they regularly endure verbal abuse, including racist insults, have food, and beer bottles hurled at their windows, and their cars kicked by people as they drive past.

Dave Burgess-Pearson, secretary of Stoke-on-Trent Hackney Carriage Association (HCA), said: "The meeting went very well. I feel we were listened to.

"We have to appreciate the police are already overstretched but we believe they will pay extra attention to the problem now.

"The council said we could have a few temporary taxi ranks."

"What we really need is a CCTV camera just for the Stafford Street rank, though."

At present one surveillance camera is sited about 50 metres away at Crown Bank and covers a wider area including the rank.

However, police say this unit will focus more on the hotspot for the time being and patrols will also be stepped up.

Inspector Bill James, commander of City Centre Local Policing Unit, said: "I will be endeavouring to put more police there and the CCTV will also be focusing in the Stafford Street area to reassure the drivers.

"The Hackney Carriage and private hire drivers do a marvellous and important job clearing people out of the city centre late at night.

"Having some temporary taxi ranks may mean people are dispersed quicker and there is less prospect of trouble."

A spokesman for Stoke-on-Trent City Council added: "The HCA, at its bi-monthly meeting with the city council, requested a CCTV camera in Hanley and we are currently considering the request.

"We are also discussing the possibility of three new taxi ranks in Hanley with the HCA."

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

And exactly how is that going to work?

Are they going to out-law punters from punching from one rank, but not the other?

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IDFIMH

good point sussex, we watch with interest

Captain Cab

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

If there are new ranks then the crowds may disperse to them, but they won't disperse any quicker from the town centre.

Quite what the connection is with abusive and threatening passengers is anyone's guess.

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

Maybe as Stoke are one of the few councils that still restrict, then the local HC trade are trying anything to stop the council joining the many.

Clearly they are up for more ranks, but not up to put more taxis on them.

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IDFIMH

Cant really say to much down here.

the last bloke attacked at a cab rank, was a customner by a driver.

With 87 taxis and 664 PH then even the T&G might call this an imbalance.

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

So much for 'managed growth' there then.

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IDFIMH

87 taxi s and 664 ph vehicles, if this not absolute proof, there is unmet demand in stoke ,i dont know what is .You dont need a survey for that one.build all the ranks you want Do all the bent surveys you like . The truth will out ,i wish i lived in stoke !

I can never believe how many taxis there are in some English cities.

In St ANdrews there are about the same as in Stoke (87) and we only have around 20,000 population including around 7,000 students, and there are another few thousand in surrounding villages. At least we only have about 5 PH.

How many people live in Stoke. It must be bigger than Aberdeen and Dundee, but Aberdeen has nearly 1000 taxis and Dundee has 500.

Stoke are having an unmet demad survey and have yet to decide on future policy. You should know the outcome by June.

Regards

JD

Stoke has a population of 240,000 people and has 87 hackney cabs. Liverpool has a population of 430,000 and has 1417 hackney cab s .Aberdeen has apopulation of 212,125 - 1000 cab s Dundee has apopulation 143,000 - 500 cabs .In other words if you are a hackney taxi owner, in Stoke you are in the cra- . Perhaps JD might know, how much plates are being sold for in stoke . After june i am afraid it will be a lot less . Or perhaps jacobs will do the stoke survey .

I doubt if any survey will make a lot of difference in places like Stoke - over the years the demand has clearly been pushed into the PH market, so when any survey is done there won't be that much unmet demand found at the ranks.

These surveys effectively endorse what's there already.

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

Jacobs are doing the study in Edinburgh, but I bet a pound to a penny it will be nothing like the Liverpool effort.

That one I'm afraid is as bent as a nine bob note.

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IDFIMH