'We know the best site for Workington taxi rank' - cabbies
Cabbies in Workington think that Jane Street would be the best location for the town’s night-time taxi rank.Thursday, 02 August 2012Allerdale council is consulting on plans to move the Washington Street rank because congestion there has resulted in taxi drivers being fined and cautioned.
An option put forward to move the night-time rank into the pedestrianised shopping area in Risman Place has sparked opposition, with Washington Square centre manager Dave Fletcher saying the idea would create a rat-run and would not be allowed to happen.
Other options are the lay-by on Jane Street opposite Sadies Takeaway, Murray Road and the Udale Street car park.
Cabbie Ged Glaister, 44, of Workington, put forward the Jane Street suggestion.
He said: “There are no other spots. The town centre won’t happen, Pow Street won’t happen and Murray Road is too far away.
“It would be best going onto Jane Street with a filter lane going back where the old market was.”
Ian Melville, 44, of Workington, said: “It’s totally ridiculous to put it in Risman Place.
“You’ll have people peeing in doorways, and you’ll have windows smashed.
“Outside Sadies on Jane Street would be the best place.
“The overflow could go to the Central Station car park.”
Kenny Langcake, 44, of Workington town centre, agreed that a rank outside on Jane Street with an overflow in Central Station car park would be best.
He added: “We need somewhere to go. There’s nothing going to stop people picking up on Washington Street because we are Hackney carriages.”
For David Fee, 51, of Workington, a rank on Jane Street with taxis feeding in past Argos and through the loading area under the Parksafe car park is the preferred option.
He said: “I think that would be the safest idea.”
Ray Cottier, 52, of Workington, said: “The town centre is a non-starter. That granite in the square cost a lot of money. They don’t want oil on it.
“Jane Street layby is the only alternative.
“I think they should just leave it where it’s at. The police can move people on if there are too many.”
Carl McGuinness, 34, of Workington, added that Risman Place would be ideal but would not happen.
He said: “There they’d have to get the first taxi; they couldn’t go down and bargain prices.”
He added that Jane Street would be the best alternative.
But David Rothery, 60, of Salterbeck, Workington, backed Risman Place.
He said: “There used to be an official taxi rank in there. It’s no good on Murray Road because people won’t go from the town centre to it at night.
“If the taxi rank was on Jane Street people would just pick up on Washington Street anyway.”
Source; http://www.timesandstar.co.uk/news/poli ... Path=news/
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