This sounds messy, but as the likes of Leeds and Brighton demonstrate, relocating ranks is always problematic and will never please everyone.
But this is all about residents' concerns, and no input from the trade as regards what they think about it.
But, likewise, from the drivers' persective there's likely to be pros and cons. When ours (at Leuchars station) was redesigned a few years ago, they did little more than move it a few yards and provided a bit more space. But for various reasons I could write a book about, think on balance I preferred it the way it was
Newcastle Central Station taxi rank move fears
https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/ ... ove-fears/
Image: Newcastle City Council/The Northern Echo
COUNCIL bosses have pledged not to relocate Newcastle Central Station’s taxi rank until neighbours’ fears over noise and disgusting fumes are dealt with.
A £4m redesign of the railway station will see the long queue of taxis moved out of the Orchard Street tunnel, which will be pedestrianised under the plans.
The cabs are due to be moved to the current short-stay car park at the front of the station, but locals have been left furious at the prospect of drivers queuing outside their homes around Bewick Street throughout the day and night to get into the new rank location.
Orchard Street has previously been named as the most polluted road in Newcastle, leaving residents to the west of the station fearful that they could soon face an emissions nightmare outside their windows.
Peter Howard, who has lived on Clayton Street West for more than 30 years, warned that the fumes and noise generated by a taxi rank would be “too much” even for residents well used to city centre life and said he felt it was “clear that the planners had made their minds up and had not really considered any alternatives”.
The 63-year-old added: “They seem to think that the air quality for people who walk through the tunnel for maybe five minutes a day is more important than the air and noise pollution for the hundreds who live next to Bewick Street and will suffer 24/7.”
However, Newcastle City Council officials insist that no final decisions have been made about how the new taxi rank will work and accept that the long queue of cabs in the Orchard Street tunnel cannot simply be shifted to Bewick Street.
The local authority has now promised that, while work is due to start this month on the latest phase of the train station’s revamp, the taxis will not move until a “properly designed and tested solution” is found.
A council spokesperson said: “The multi-million-pound transformation of Central Station will vastly improve the travelling experience for the thousands of passengers who pass through this important gateway to the North East every year.
“As part of a series of improvements we are proposing to relocate the station taxi rank, currently outside of the Centurion pub, to a redesigned larger rank in the current short stay car park to the west of the main portico to address the problem of air pollution in the Orchard Street tunnel used by taxis waiting to enter the station rank.
“We understand the concerns of residents that if taxis were waiting on Bewick Street on approach to the rank it could cause noise and pollution. However, we are exploring various options to avoid this.
“The station taxi rank will not be relocated until a properly designed and tested solution, involving full consultation with local residents and station taxi drivers, is undertaken.
“We will continue to work closely with residents until we find a solution that addresses their concerns.”
Mr Howard suggested that the council should look at alternative locations for the taxi rank, such as near to the new walkway entrance to Central Station being created opposite the Centre for Life.
He added: “I have lived in the city centre for more than 35 years, We accept levels of noise and disturbance that non-city residents would not accept. But bringing the taxi rank to our doorsteps is just too much.”
Neighbour Heather Rogers, aged 57, suggested that the council should use measures like red lines or bollards to ban taxis from stopping and waiting on Bewick Street to be called into the main rank.
The council said that such measures are being explored and that alternative locations for the taxi rank had also been considered, though it would have to be on station land.
The revamp of Central Station will see two new entrances created – one on Central Parkway, leading passengers down a newly-built concourse towards the platforms, and one at the front of the station on Neville Street.
