Taxi driver says new red no stopping lines near Nottingham train station makes dropping-off a 'nightmare'
https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/not ... ed-2119755
Image: Nottingham Post
'You can't park anywhere near to the exit to the station'
A taxi driver has criticised a decision to roll out red no stopping lines around Nottingham train station - saying it is a 'nightmare' to pick-up and drop-off passengers.
Nottingham City Council introduced the lines which start in Trent Street - after the Hackney taxi rank - and go round the corner all the way up Station Street towards London Road.
In between the red lines in Station Street are a number of designated drop-off bays - and cameras monitoring them have also been installed.
The council has increased the number of bays from four to seven in the last month, which motorists can stay in for around five minutes. There are also separate disabled bays along the road.
But Chris Wilkins, 54, a private-hire Uber driver, said these were often full.
"You can't park anywhere near to the exit to the station," he said.
"It's a no-stopping route, you can't even stop to let someone out. We have to keep going to find a space to park in and sometimes you can't find one."
At the other side of the station, private hire vehicles can also use facilities outside the entrance in Queen's Road - or use the 30-minute free drop-off facility in the multi-storey car park.
But Mr Wilkins, of Rivermead, Cotgrave, has been left frustrated and said passengers wanted to be as near to the ticket office as possible.
Image: Joseph Raynor/Nottingham Post
"I had a lady who had four bags and wanted to be as close to the station entrance as possible but because of the red zone I was unable to get anywhere near to the entrance," he said.
"In fact I drove around to the Queen's Road drop-off area and that had overspilled onto the red zone markings on Queen's Road. I just couldn’t win.
"In the end I drove back to Station Street and had to drop her near the bus stand and double [park] at a pay-and-display bay 100 yards away from the main ticket office entrance.
"This is getting to be an absolute nightmare.
"As Uber drivers we are able to phone our passengers once a job has been accepted but I’m having to say to my customers: 'Walk down to where I’m double parked with my hazards on'.
"Just so I avoid an instant fine."
Councillor Dave Liversidge, portfolio holder for transport at Nottingham City Council, said: “The situation at the corner of Trent Street and Station Street has been an issue for some time.
"We felt that we needed to come up with a solution to ensure pedestrian safety at a very busy junction where drivers were continually ignoring the existing no-stopping rules.
“Unfortunately, demand for dropping off passengers and collecting them outside the station entrances – both taxis and the public – far outstrips the amount of kerb space available.
"This is a national problem and not unique to Nottingham.
“Following the improvements to Station Street a couple of years ago, the needs of taxis drivers were carefully considered and built into the scheme.
"While stopping is not allowed on the pedestrian-friendly area outside Loxley House, there are plenty of other options available.
“We’ve increased the number of drop-off bays nearby on Station Street from four to an initial seven, and these are available for both the public and taxis.
"Private-hire vehicles can also use facilities outside the station entrance on Queen’s Road or the multi-storey car park, which allows 30 minutes of free parking for drop-offs and pick-ups.
“The red lines have been introduced to allow us to enforce no-stopping, but mostly to remind motorists that they cannot wait on that junction – we have to keep the traffic moving.
"Stationary vehicles cause congestion back along Trent Street and block visibility at a busy crossing point for pedestrians.”
Nottinghamshire Live attempted to contact Uber for comment.
Image: Nottingham Post
