Taxi Driver Online

Drivers call for new taxi rank to ease congestion


A GROUP of taxi drivers are continuing their fight for more ranks in the borough of Gedling.

They are calling for an official rank to be introduced in Carlton Hill, which they say becomes dangerous outside local pubs at closing time.

The road is home to the Free Man pub, Top Spot club and the Carlton and District Liberal Club, all of which close at between midnight and 1am on Friday and Saturday nights, while buses on Carlton Hill stop at around 11.30pm.

Simeon Robert, a taxi driver from Bobbers Mill, who has a Hackney carriage, said: "Carlton Hill is a good spot for us to get business when the pubs close. There is always someone waiting but nowhere to park that's a proper rank."

Hackney carriages are permitted to wait at ranks, and many are not affiliated to private hire firms.

"If I worked for a private hire firm I would have to pay hundreds for the privilege and it just isn't worth it.

"It's a big problem because they keep issuing new licences," added Mr Robert.

The call for a Carlton Hill rank is the latest step in an ongoing row about the number or licences in Gedling.

There are just three designated taxi ranks across Gedling, with 15 spaces between them, but more than 700 registered taxis in the borough.

Dave Tizzard, secretary of Carlton and District Liberal Club, said: "At night times at the weekends there are always people waiting for a taxi.

"I think it would be useful to have a taxi rank, even if it was just at those hours. Then it wouldn't affect shoppers during the day."

He said he would welcome a trial period to see if the roads would be any safer.

"When they all come out of Top Spot a load of punters are waiting around for taxis. If you put a rank there then they'd be waiting for them - and the cabbies would have a place to park up."

Jim Bird, 62, a regular at the Free Man pub who lives in Gedling, said: "They have to pull up by the loading bay at the Free Man. I say give it a run and see how it goes. It would be better for everyone's business, and safer."

Gedling Borough Council says it has had no complaints so far about the provision of taxi ranks in Carlton Hill.

A spokesman said if issues were raised they would be looked into accordingly.

Notts County Council would be responsible for carrying out the work if the borough decided a new rank was needed.

County council traffic manager Peter Goode said: "We are not aware of any complaints about queuing taxis or other traffic on Carlton Hill."


Read more: http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/Drive ... z2c1An1NoV

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