Taxi Driver Online

Reminds me of when our council tried to remove our main day rank by stealth simply be designing it out to make way for what I call the Potemkin buses

After the local association kicked up a stink, they revisited the design and (to be fair) put a lot of effort into accommodating an alternative rank on the bus station site.

However, the design is so convoluted I rarely go there now, not to mention that the huge surge in the number of buses means there's even less work there than before (so the buses aren't totally Potemkin, but to the extent that they're hugely underutilised and inefficient, that's what I call them... )


Great Yarmouth Troll Cart taxi rank changes spark fury

https://www.greatyarmouthmercury.co.uk/ ... park-fury/


Image: Archant/Great Yarmouth Mercury

Taxi drivers have been left furious after being "swept aside" in favour of buses as major changes to the road network in a Norfolk town will mean one of the busiest ranks will be closed.

Great Yarmouth's cabbies say a proposal to stop them from picking up customers outside the Troll Cart - one of the most popular pubs - before 11pm will lead to a "considerable" loss of earnings.

It comes as Norfolk County Council intends to alter bus routes in the Market Gates area and create a new bus lane travelling in the opposite direction to traffic currently in order to cut journey times.

NCC is making a number of bus service improvements in the town which will affect taxi ranks as part of the £2m project.

Under the proposals, drivers will only be able to use the Temple Road taxi rank - outside the Wetherspoon pub - between 11pm and 5am.

This is to allow for a new bus lane to be created, which will run in the opposite direction from the current flow of traffic.

As a compromise, the taxi rank outside Theatre Plain will be expanded to allow for 12 cars in total.

New taxi ranks will also be built at the Market Gates Road on both the north and south sides.

NCC say the project will make bus journeys quicker and more reliable, separate buses from general traffic and boost the local economy.

Work is due to start commencing on January 2025 and it is due to be completed by May 2025.

Great Yarmouth Borough Council's licencing committee had previously blocked the changes to the taxi rank at a meeting in November.

However, Conservative councillors subsequently put forward a motion to revisit this decision at a full council meeting this month.

Graham Plant, a Great Yarmouth councillor who is also the NCC cabinet member for highways and transport, was among those calling for it to be revisited.

The Licensing Committee will vote on the changes again at a meeting next year.


Image: Archant/Great Yarmouth Mercury

RANK RAGE

The proposed changes have frustrated taxi drivers in the town, who feel they are being "steamrolled" through without proper consideration for how it may affect their trade.

Sean Morley, a spokesman for the Great Yarmouth Taxi Association, said: "The Troll Cart rank is a mainstay of our business and is one of the busiest areas.

"This will hit our trade and will pull customers away.

"We feel taxis are not being considered within NCC's transport strategy despite being a big part of the network.

"We feel we have been pushed to the wayside in favour of the buses."

Drivers in the town say customers worry they will feel unsafe as the walk from the Troll Cart to the new ranks at Market Gates is poorly lit.

It is understood businesses next to the Temple Road taxi rank feel they have not been consulted with about the changes.

Roy Symonds, a retired driver who now works as a legal representative for GYBTA, added: "About 200 drivers will be significantly harmed by these changes.

"A lack of good taxi ranks in the town means that drivers give up earlier as they aren't getting decent fares.

"But people who have done their shopping will often choose a taxi to get home, rather than waiting one or two hours for a bus.

"This means people don't come into Yarmouth as much now as they may struggle to get a taxi home, which affects the town's economy too."

I wonder if the bus companies haven't been eyeing this spot with envy and have persuaded councillors to look after them.

_________________
lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

100%.

But at least it appears the taxi trade are at least trying to fight the good fight.

Usually that only happens when the decision is made.

_________________
IDFIMH

Sounds about right - the licensing committee can't vote against the rank's removal because the traffic order is already in place


Anger after Great Yarmouth taxi rank changes approved

https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/24855092.a ... -approved/

One of the busiest taxi ranks in Norfolk is to shut in a move that has caused anger among drivers and councillors who say it has been forced upon the town.

Great Yarmouth Borough Council's (GYBC) licensing committee approved the changes for the rank outside the Troll Cart Wetherspoon pub, which will be closed between the hours of 5am and 11pm.

The changes are necessary for Norfolk County Council to complete a major £2m transformation of Yarmouth's road system, which aims to improve bus services.

This is to allow for a new bus lane to be created on Temple Road, which will run in the opposite direction from the current flow of traffic.

However, taxi drivers and councillors have complained that it has been forced upon the town without proper consultation by County Hall.

At a heated licensing committee meeting this week, drivers affected by the changes highlighted their concerns to councillors, with many worrying it will result in a substantial loss of income.

But GYBC members said they had no choice but to approve the measures as if they voted to block it, it would be unlawful as the Traffic Regulation Order has already been made by NCC.

Following the meeting, Kerry Robinson Payne, a Labour councillor for Nelson Ward, said: "We are here to represent the public that elected us, nobody wants it moved.

"But if we did not approve this, it would have gone to a judicial review, which would have cost the council thousands of pounds.

"We were really against it as we feel walked over by NCC, who just expected us to approve it. Officers also said that the decision had been forced upon us."

Sean Morley, a spokesman for the Great Yarmouth Taxi Association, said NCC only consulted with a dozen people from the industry but did not speak to the 400 drivers operating in the town.

"We were not properly consulted. This was a prime rank in the middle of the town, we have been totally disregarded as part of the transport network.

"This has caused lots of hassle and animosity."

Mr Morley says the changes come amid wider frustration at the handling of the taxi network in Yarmouth and that the changes are already causing problems for drivers.

He added: "I think the changes are a waste of money which will make only small improvements for buses."

Drivers have said teething problems have caused "chaos" and that there is not adequate signage to direct the public to other taxi ranks from the Troll Cart.

The changes were approved by the Licensing Committee despite the backlash.

NCC has refuted complaints there was not enough consultation conducted.

A spokesman said: "We carried out a full public consultation on a draft design for the scheme last summer and the final proposals were designed in consultation with local drivers.

"All decisions regarding taxi provision in the town rest with Great Yarmouth Borough Council’s licensing committee.

"The completed scheme will improve public transport across Great Yarmouth, making all bus journeys quicker and more reliable and support the local economy.”

Following the closure of the Troll Cart rank, the taxi rank outside Theatre Plain will be expanded to allow for 12 cars in total.

New taxi ranks will also be built at the Market Gates Road on both the north and south sides.

TAXI FARES RISE

People travelling by Hackney Carriages can also expect to pay more for their journeys, as the Licensing Committee members have also approved fare increases for this year.

The new charges were opposed by some taxi drivers, who worried it may put people off using the service due to the higher costs.

The current set tariff for a standard journey at just over two miles will rise from £7.40 to £8.

Night time rates will also begin from 9pm - an hour earlier than they do currently, with fares to increase by 10p to £9.30.

Nothing much new here in terms of detail or substance, but Reform MP Rupert Lowe has waded in...

Doubt that'll make a lot of difference, though - everything's done and dusted as far as the procedures go, and the works have started, so calls to do it in a different manner or whatever are probably not going to make much difference, at least at this stage.

And not sure whether the likes of Rupert Lowe getting involved would be a good or bad thing - he makes his sidekick Nigel Farage seem like a shrinking violet

Of course, telling it like it is might be a good thing in some ways (ie his stuff on the 'rape gangs' rather than calling them the slightly softer 'grooming gangs', and not being afraid to broach the subject of the ethnicity/nationality/religion of the perps), and is surely a big reason why Reform are surging in the polls.

On the other hand, not being afraid to tell the truth can have its downsides as regards getting stuff done. I mean, mayor of London Sadiq Khan is responsible for the ranks and roads, and HC/PH regulation in London, yet the other day he specifically said he wouldn't work with Reform regarding knife crime

Likewise, when Tory Susan Hall asked Khan a couple of days ago about grooming gangs, he gave the distinct impression that he was trying to trip her up into using the P- or M-words, and then he'd play the racism/Islamophobia card

https://x.com/CityHallTories/status/1879930688947859780

I suspect Rupert Lowe might have used both the P- and M-words.

(And by P-word I don't mean the word 'peasant' used by Kemi Badenoch about the grooming gangs )

But which would obviously have both and upside and downside attached...

Anyway, back to the rank beside the Troll Cart pub in Great Yarmouth


Rupert Lowe on Market Gates bus lane redevelopment

The controversy over the closure of the "busiest" taxi rank in Great Yarmouth to improve bus lanes has seen the town's MP wade in.

Great Yarmouth Borough Council has approved changes for the taxi lane by the Troll Cart pub to allow Norfolk County Council to complete a £2m transformation of the resort's road system.

It has meant the closure of a "prime" taxi rank outside on Temple Road during the works - and then between 11pm and 5am daily when completed.

MP Rupert Lowe has called the county council out and says the roadworks beneath Market Gates are "putting people off" coming into the town centre.

Mr Lowe said: "I have been contacted by a number of concerned business owners and taxi drivers regarding the updates taking place under Market Gates.

"Completely shutting down this central bus and taxi hub and re-routing buses into unfamiliar areas of the town is putting people off coming into the Town Centre.

"Countless business and taxi drivers have complained to me the town centre is currently decimated because of these works.

"Retail businesses, including some big high street names, have shared concerns of whether they can survive with works due to carry on through to May.

"Of course, I support improvements to Great Yarmouth, but this must be done sensibly in a phased approach to minimise the impact on businesses.

"I urge Norfolk County Council to re-think their approach to these works. Great Yarmouth must be open for business."

The county council has issued a Traffic Regulation Order to allow buses to better serve Great Yarmouth's bus station.

It says as well as improving services the new system will benefit the town economically.

The work will allow for a new bus lane to be created on Temple Road, to run in the opposite direction from the current flow of traffic, speeding up bus journeys.

However, taxi drivers and councillors complained that it has been forced upon the town without proper consultation by County Hall.

Alternative ranks will be created on Market Gates Road - and the rank on Theatre Plain will be enlarged to hold 12 cars.

The county council has issued a Traffic Regulation Order to allow buses to better serve Great Yarmouth's bus station.

It says as well as improving services the new system will benefit the town economically.

The work will allow for a new bus lane to be created on Temple Road, to run in the opposite direction from the current flow of traffic, speeding up bus journeys.

However, taxi drivers and councillors complained that it has been forced upon the town without proper consultation by County Hall.

Alternative ranks will be created on Market Gates Road - and the rank on Theatre Plain will be enlarged to hold 12 cars.