Bournemouth taxi rank closure plan 'recipe for disaster'Some taxi drivers in Bournemouth say plans to close a town centre rank are a "recipe for disaster" and will compromise passenger safety.
Bournemouth Borough Council plans to shut the taxi rank at Horseshoe Common.
It says it aims to disperse people away from an overcrowded area to existing and new ranks about 600 yards (550m) away where there is more space.
Bournemouth Taxi Drivers' Association says it leaves passengers in a "vulnerable" situation at night.
'Throng and crush' John Tye, chairman of the association, said the proposal was also likely to aggrieve "drunk" passengers who would have to travel further afield for their taxi, making them more aggressive towards taxi drivers.
Councillor Andrew Morgan, chairman of the authority's licensing board, said: "There is currently a throng and a crush late on Friday and Saturday nights at Horseshoe Common with hundreds of people trying to negotiate a narrow bit of pavement near take-away queues and railings.
"We are aiming for the safer and faster dispersal of these people by moving them to areas where there is more space."
He said signs would divert passengers to an existing rank at Westover Road and new ones on Christchurch Road and Richmond Hill Road.
"I think we should give people some credit for being able to read a sign and to learn where the new taxi ranks are going to be," he said.
The proposed closure will be discussed at a meeting of the council's licensing board later.
source:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-24520236
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