Fears expressed that number of taxis allowed to wait at Three Bridges station could be halvedFEARS have been expressed that the number of taxis at Three Bridges station could be halved.
Amin Mirza, who on Sunday became the new chairman of the Crawley Hackney Carriage Association, has revealed drivers are concerned by speculation that there are plans to reduce the space for licensed taxis at the station.
The station is currently being redeveloped.
Mr Mirza said: "I have heard the council is planning to move the current taxi rank, where it has been for years, to another site at the station, and they are only granting space for 18 cars on the new site.
"When trains run frequently after 10pm, even if there are 40 cars there they go in two minutes.
"It's very convenient for passengers to have more taxis there.
"The council really must do something, otherwise passengers will face a lot of problems."
Mr Mirza added Three Bridges station is the "main source of income" for the association's members.
"They are suffering at the moment, working 14 hours a day," he said.
Mr Mirza said drivers are also concerned that private hire taxi firms are using ranks in the town centre intended just for hackney carriage cabs.
"They are picking up from the Jubilee Oak rank, in Crawley High Street, as and when they see customers, which is unacceptable," he said.
Mr Mirza, of Juniper Road, Langley Green, believes a solution to the problems his members face would be to introduce more ranks for licensed taxis in the town.
He said: "I am planning to hold a meeting with the town's politicians to bring these problems to their attention and I hope they will find a solution immediately."
Mr Mirza, 50, was elected as chairman at a meeting of the association at the cricket club at Cherry Lane Playing Fields, in Langley Green, which more than 70 taxi drivers attended.
The Crawley Hackney Carriage Association has more than 100 members.
Hackney carriage cabs are licensed by the council and therefore are allowed to pick people up from taxi ranks.
Private hire companies should only pick up passengers who have booked.
A spokesman for Network Rail said plans have not been finalised as to whether the Three Bridges taxi rank will be moved. Once they have, he said there will be a public consultation.
A Crawley Borough Council spokesman added, talking about Mr Mirza's other concerns: "It's an offence for a private hire vehicle to park at a hackney carriage rank.
"The council's civil enforcement officers and licensing officer enforce this and can take legal action if it happens."
He added a new rank opposite Argos, in Queensway, is going to be put in place soon.
Read more:
http://www.crawleynews.co.uk/Rail-stati ... z3EzBXaQEV
Login
Register
FAQ
