Cabbies fuming over closure of town taxi rankTAXI drivers in Barnard Castle are furious after their rank was closed without warning – a move they say has lost them money and put customers in danger.
The cabbies say the situation has meant they have had to park on double yellow lines 70 yards away because the authorities have offered them no alternative.
The rank outside Morrisons was blocked off when the fair arrived in the car park near the supermarket.
Andrew Hinchcliffe, of Pitstop Taxis, said: “No one has got in touch to tell us what was happening and we’re losing money because our customers don’t know where we are.
“We’ve had to park outside the pet shop but that’s really not ideal. Buses are struggling to get though, we’re blocking in parked cars and its dangerous for customers.
“I’ve got the only wheelchair access taxi in Barnard Castle but I wouldn’t even attempt to get the ramp out in the middle of the road because with all the traffic and buses, someone would get killed.”
Durham County Council created a taxi rank outside Morrisons in 2009. In the past it has been closed for the fair, but last year taxi drivers complained about the situation. They said they were told the problem would be resolved this year.
“The signs for the fair only went up on Wednesday and we thought the taxi rank would be left open.
“But the next day we found it had been shut without anyone telling us,” said Mr Hinchcliffe.
He added: “No one at the council seems to want to take responsibility. I rang them up but they said it was the highways responsibility.
“I called them but they said to contact taxi licensing but they said it was the council’s responsibility. It’s ridiculous.”
Taxi driver Mark Williams said some older customers can’t carry their shopping the 70 yards to the makeshift taxi rank.
Disabled customer Harry Fullwood, who uses a wheelchair, said: “I normally use the taxis but I can’t now because it’s not safe.”
The cabbies said the rank should have been kept open, with a one-way through route created while the fair was in town.
“Delivery drivers and the postman are allowed to drive through, so why can’t we?” asked Mr Hinchcliffe.
There is another taxi rank, near Natwest on Horsemarket, but that only operates in the evening. In day, the spaces there are occupied by parked cars.
Residents have also contacted the Mercury to complain about the closure of the rank, saying it was affecting elderly and disabled people.
Durham County Council said the decision to close the rank was taken by a safety advisory committee, which is chaired by the police. A council spokesman said the closure would have been made with people’s safety in mind but that it would be more appropriate for the police to comment.
No one was available at Durham Police at the time of going to press.
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