Fairly bog standard taxi office planning application here, but I suppose Boro Taxis quite a big operation, so to that extent fairly newsworthy.
Boro Taxis loses appeal to open a 24-hour-a-day town centre booking office
https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/tees ... n-15850945
Teesside's biggest taxi firm has lost an appeal to a planning inspector over its proposals for Albert Road
Boro Taxis Company Secretary, Christine Bell (Image: Gazette Live)
Teesside's biggest taxi firm has lost a battle to build a new booking office in Middlesbrough town centre.
Boro Taxis asked for permission in April 2017 to change the use of the former Jo Hand Recruitment offices in Albert Road.
But Middlesbrough Council refused planning permission, so the company appealed to the Planning Inspectorate.
The Middlesbrough-based firm had argued in planning documents that the booking office would allow it to "achieve a more economical and efficient business service".
It aimed to operate a 24 hours a day, seven days a week operation, staffed by two employees to answer phones and deal with customers visiting on foot.
But after fears were raised about the impact on traffic, and taxis potentially needing to 'double park' on Albert Road, a revised plan submitted in September 2017 said customers looking for a taxi between 11pm and 4am would be picked up from Albert Mews at the rear of the building.
12-14 Albert Road, where Boro Taxis wanted to open a 24-hour-a-day booking office (Image: Google/Gazette Live)
However, letters of objection were sent by 37 people living in flats directly behind the proposed office, which raised concerns about "drunks" shouting and swearing, anti-social behaviour, litter and constant noise from cars.
The council rejected the proposal in March 2018 - citing the concerns about traffic and parking on Albert Road, and noise pollution to nearby residents.
The firm - which has a fleet of more than 1,200 vehicles and employs around 900 people, a mixture of direct employees and self-employed drivers - then appealed.
But after visiting the site in November last year, planning inspector Elaine Gray has backed the council's original decision and dismissed Boro Taxis' appeal.
She wrote: "The main issues are the effect of the proposal on highway conditions and public safety in the area, and the effect on the living conditions of nearby residents, with particular regard to noise and disturbance."
Addressing a six-hour traffic survey presented by Boro Taxis, Ms Gray said she could not be certain that an increase in taxis using Albert Road would not be "clearly detrimental to the efficient flow of traffic, and to the safety of pedestrians and other road users".
Ms Gray said that if customers were picked up from the rear of the office, on Albert Mews, the "possibility that shouting or fighting could occur in or around taxi bays" and the chance of car horns being sounded, would lead to an unacceptable risk of noise for residents who live nearby.
She said the company's proposal to employ a taxi marshal and install CCTV and put up warning signs could deter bad behaviour - but it was not a guarantee it would be stopped.
She concluded: "The appeal scheme would bring about some modest social and economic benefits in terms of providing employment, and a service that would otherwise be compatible with the night-time economy of the surrounding area, and the regeneration vision for Albert Road.
"However, these benefits would not outweigh the harm I have identified."
Christine Bell of Boro Taxis said: "It is disappointing that Middlesbrough Council, which always claim ‘public safety is paramount’, chose to refuse and oppose our application for planning permission for a taxi booking office on Albert Road, as we take our safeguarding responsibilities seriously and our aim was to provide night time revellers with somewhere warm, dry and safe to wait for their transport home."
