Shipley private hire boss angry at taxi rank plan for stationThe boss of a private hire firm has raised concerns over possible plans to install a hackney carriage rank at Shipley rail station.
Members of Bradford Council’s Regulatory and Appeals Panel have instructed officers to look into setting up taxi stands at both Shipley and Keighley stations so disabled passengers have easy access to wheelchair accessible vehicles.
But Craig Brook, manager of AA Shipley, claims there is no need for a taxi rank at Shipley, as private hire firms, including his own, are already providing wheelchair accessible vehicles to passengers who need them.
The business has installed a free phone line at the station and a hackney carriage presence would inevitably hit trade, he said.
Mr Brook said: “Shipley station is serviced by at least nine private hire firms. I don’t see any benefit whatsoever in having hackney carriages there.
“If there’s a hackney carriage stand there customers will just jump in a taxi.
“There are more than 250 cars in the companies that service the station and there’s no issue of people not being able to get taxis and we have never had a problem supplying disabled passengers. We have had no contact from the Council about this issue and what disabled access we can provide.
“I’d welcome them to contact me and have a meeting so we can tell them what we are able to offer.”
Plans for a taxi rank at the station have been supported by members of the panel, including Councillor John Cole (Lib Dem, Baildon) and Michael Ellis (Con, Bingley Rural).
Coun Cole said: “I am in favour of having hackney carriages available whereby people arrive and they need a wheelchair accessible vehicle.
“Private hire vehicles generally don’t have disabled access and hackney carriages do.
“It’s going to be a commercial decision for the hackney carriage drivers whether they will get enough customers.
source:
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/n ... r_station/
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