Calls to move taxis off Elgin High Street to make way for more blue badge spaces
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Calls have been made to move a taxi rank in a Moray town centre to free up spaces for disabled motorists.
Heldon and Laich councillor John Cowe in Elgin town centre. (Image: DC Thomson)
Shoppers used to line up for cabs on North Street in Elgin before the line was shifted to the west end of the High Street about a decade ago.
That decision was taken to allow disabled passengers to be picked up and dropped off closer to shops.
And yesterday Moray Council’s economic development committee confirmed proposals to increase the amount of blue badge parking in the town centre.
The plan was met with calls to move the taxi rank back to North Street when the Poundland repairs have been completed.
Heldon and Laich councillor John Cowe, a former chairman of the economic development committee, said: “I have never been happy that taxis are on that part of the High Street while people with blue badges have to park further away.
“It’s ridiculous that taxis are allowed there all day. It can be timed so they are there until first thing in the morning or after 5pm to free up space for blue badge holders.”
Proposals backed by the committee include providing wider spaces in the St Giles and Batchen Land multi-storey car parks, more disabled options at Moray Street and South Street and more on-street spaces at Thunderton Place and North Guildry Street.
The council’s transport manager Nicola Moss stressed that many disabled passengers were also regular users of cabs.
She said: “The taxi rank at the west end of the town centre does provide easy access for people who don’t have the use of a car. We have to take account of all needs.”
Chairman Graham Leadbitter described finding the balance between taxis and disabled parking as “tricky”.
He added: “The number of taxi licences has increased significantly over the years. Even if the rank was moved back to North Street there might not be enough space there.
“I’ve seen taxis waiting past the roundabout and outside the Post Office at weekends when the High Street rank is full.”
The committee agreed to revisit the issue in two years once North Street is available again following repairs to the Poundland building.
