New Peterborough "taxi" call centre is approved A new taxi call centre on Lincoln Road in Peterborough has been given planning permission – despite residents’ concerns about noise.
The office for Olympic Taxis will be located at 787 Lincoln Road in Peterborough, after council planners gave it the green light at Town Hall yesterday.
Despite the fact the firm still has to apply for a private hire licence, Peterborough City Council’s planning committee voted in favour of granting planning permission to change the building from a storage facility to an office by a majority of five votes to two – but only after councillors laid out a series of strict conditions the firm has to stick too.
The meeting heard from Gary Akehurst, a resident who lives near the office location on Lincoln Road.
He said: “We’ve a number of concerns about the location. The visibility on the site is not good when coming out and there have been a number of issues in the past with previous tenants where schoolchildren have nearly been knocked over.
“There have also been problems with the noise and dust coming from the gravel path there.”
But Phil Branston, an agent acting for applicant Samam Khan, said private hire vehicles would only use the site in “exceptional circumstances” as they are always on the move around the city.
He added: “There would also only be one member of staff on duty at any time, so the amount of traffic using the area would be at a minimum.”
Cllr Peter Hiller proposed the committee approve permission, with conditions imposed limiting vehicle visits to the site to once a week, and only between 9am and 2pm during weekdays.
They also imposed a ban on external lighting and a noise limit of 35 decibels.
Speaking after the hearing, Mr Akehurst said: “I have mixed feelings about this. I am pleased that the committee have added some conditions that have improved the situation.”
Mr Khan, who said he was starting the firm to help fund his children’s university education, said: “I am pleased with the outcome and am looking to get started as soon as possible.”
source:
http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/