Taxi drivers furious after Ayr town centre rank vanishes overnight OWNERS have been branded the move a "fiasco" after a replacement stand was opened in what they claim is an awkward spot.
Taxi owners have been driven mad after their rank mysteriously vanished overnight.
The furious drivers turned up in Ayr High Street on Monday only to discover their usual pick up point at Suburbia bar was boarded off.
They then spotted a brand new replacement stand on the other side of the road at Clintons, which they claim is in an awkward spot.
Driver John Clark said: “It is a fiasco as there has been no consultation whatsoever. We just arrived during the morning to find the rank gone. We had to phone the roads department to find out what was going on. Apparently officials got in touch with taxi firms but most of us are independents.”
Mr Clark said they have not been told if the new rank is permanent or not.
On Monday morning the road surface at the taxi stand was still confusingly marked: ‘loading only.’
Horns were beeped in outrage as unaware motorists pulled into the new taxi spaces at Clintons - blocking the hackneys from getting in.
A hastily erected sign on a lamp post declared: ‘standing for three taxis - 24 hours.’
Another taxi driver Dr John Atkins said: “We just turned up to work and saw this. How would people feel if they arrived at their office and it was closed and they couldn’t even find it?
Taxi driver John Clark is unhappy about the move
“There will be chaos at Clintons with lorries loading and blue disabled badge holders trying to pull up. Taxi drivers feel like we’re being treated like third class citizens. They have just messed this up.”
The mayhem comes as regeneration contractor Ayr Renaissance prepares to turn the empty Suburbia building - formerly the Clydesdale Bank - into an indoor market.
Planners will use a £1 million Scottish Government grant to turn the B-listed block into a thriving Corn Market.
The floors above will be hired out as open-plan offices.
The site is where farmers sold their corn to merchants from the 1500’s to 1843.
Ayrshire Roads Alliance boss Stewart Turner said: “As part of the on going improvement works to the High Street in Ayr, the main contractor applied for temporary occupation of the taxi rank site.
“This application was granted and the taxi rank was moved, on a temporary basis, directly across the road along with appropriate rank signage.
“Ayr does not have a taxi association so officers from the Ayrshire Roads Alliance contacted all taxi companies and individual drivers, where appropriate.
“A public notice will also be published by the Alliance to inform the community of this temporary arrangement.”
source:
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local ... yr-8702932
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