Taxi Driver Online

UK Newsquest Regional Press - This is Hertfordshire

August 3, 2006 Thursday

HEADLINE: Traders see red over taxi plan

BYLINE: Ruth Holmes

DATELINE: St. Albans Observer

PLANS to put a taxi office among a small a row of local shops have raised fears about the future of the parade.

Objectors claim locating the control room in Luton Road, Harpenden, could threaten surrounding traders, with taxis taking up precious parking space.

At a meeting on Monday night at Harpenden Public Halls, St Albans District Council's plans north committee gave the go ahead to Sui Generis taxis to use the building, which has stood empty for the past year, despite fierce opposition from residents. The meeting almost had to be adjourned after one irate member of the public burst into a tirade of objection from the floor.

The council had received more than 45 letters of objection raising concerns about the noise and disturbance the taxis might create. Local resident Philip Ponton, speaking at the meeting, said: "All the shops in this area feed off each other. If you take away one you are affecting the viability of the centre. The centre has already lost a post office and a greengrocer and another loss of retail use will be pretty severe."

Harpenden Mayor John Chambers also voiced his concern, saying: "It is a local shopping area and it is a fragile local shopping area and if a retail outlet is lost on this site it is going to set a precedent." Protesters believe the six shops have an important role to play for people who wanted to "top up" their weekly shop and for the elderly.

However, Tariq Khan-Kiani, who runs the company with Mahmood Abid, insisted the office would only be a control room and booking office and stressed it would not result in a taxi rank forming outside. He said: "We do not propose to cause any inconvenience to local shops. It is of no interest to us to have drivers sitting outside the office."

Councillor Liz Stevenson urged councillors to accept the proposals to avoid the building being left empty any longer. She said: "I do feel that protectionist arguments to preserve a retail outlet area should be tempered by the reality that businesses have to pay rents. We have to have a viable shopping parade there; we would not want to see derelict shops." The committee decided to grant the application on the condition that no taxis should call at the office to collect or wait for clients, take orders or get refreshments.
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Quite.

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IDFIMH

Just as an observation and without forming an opinion, I think it may be easier said than done stopping drivers from parking outside the office, especially at night time during the quiet periods.

Regards

JD