Birmingham's Gardens taxi rank set to move after 160 yearsby Jon Griffin, Birmingham Mail
July 21 2012
The taxi rank on Stephenson Street, Birmingham A unique slice of Birmingham is on the move after more than 160 years – as the oldest taxi rank in the city makes way for the Midland Metro.
The famous Gardens rank below the ramp off New Street is switching a few hundred yards to Bennetts Hill, marking an end to a chapter of Brummie history which began back in the mid-Victorian era.
The rank became known as the Gardens because of its proximity to an adjacent patch of greenery and was established at the same time as the opening of New Street Station back in 1851.
First founded in the days of Sherlock Holmes-style Hansom cabs, the rank was frequently used by guests staying at the nearby Queens Hotel, which opened in 1854 and has since been demolished.
For many years it was also a near neighbour of the imposing Iron and Steel Exchange Building, which is now home to HSBC bank, McDonald’s and other businesses lining one of Birmingham’s best known walkways.
But the rank will finally close on Sunday, giving way to new development work for the extension to the Midland Metro through Birmingham city centre, linking New Street and Snow Hill.
Birmingham’s best-loved historian Carl Chinn said the taxi rank was steeped in history. “Before New Street Station opened, that part of Birmingham was one of the poorest, if not the poorest, part of the city, with narrow streets, badly built houses, no drainage, etc,’’ he said.
“Today it’s the best known taxi rank in the city but for many years it would have only been used by the wealthy or business people; it would have been popular with Hansom cabs, named after Joseph Hansom, who designed the Town Hall.”
Zahir Mahmood, who has worked with TOA Taxis for 15 years, said: “It will be very sad on a personal level because I’ve worked from this rank for so many years and I’ve become accustomed to the Gardens. I’ll be very sad to see it go.”
Work on the Midland Metro extension is scheduled to begin in 2013, with a completion date of 2015
Cabbies voiced their concerns that moving the city’s historic taxi rank will mark the end of an era – and hit them in the pocket.
Mohammed Ghalib, from Smethwick, has been a taxi driver in the city for more than 30 years. He said: “I’ve been driving a cab for 32 years and have picked up everyone from footballers to cricketers in my time.
“Everyone knows where we are at the moment, it is part of the city centre’s history.”
Fellow driver Habib Rahan, from Erdington, said: “Our worry is that people won’t know where to get a taxi from now on, we are easy to spot at the moment and we will miss out on fares.”
Amjad Hussain, from Stechford, said: “With the buses and the taxi ranks moving, the city centre will look very different.
“I just hope it will be worth it.”
Driver Mohammed Sheraz, from Edgbaston, said being on a main road was “vital” to getting fares. He said: “Bennetts Hill isn’t too far away, but it will still make a difference. This rank is part of history and you need to be visible.”
Shah Jahan, from Handsworth, said: “This will make it more difficult for us in future, you can’t get as many passengers as you would like because the traffic is always bad on the A38 to get into the city.”
Source; http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top- ... 1440480/2/
Login
Register
FAQ
