Rank articles are always difficult to assess, because you really need to be there
But I'd be wary of overdoing the safety argument in case it backfires - the blame is shifted round to make the trade sound like the problem, and it all could end up worse for the drivers
Taxi rank changes needed as the Burges 'is not a safe place'
https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/ ... s-32789916
Coventry city council dropped plans to create a new rank in the Burges/Cross Cheaping but taxi drivers are not happy
Image: Coventry Telegraph/Google Maps
A Coventry taxi driver has criticised a city council decision to do a U-turn on plans to create a new rank in The Burges/Cross Cheaping. The decision was announced in spite of more than 1,600 people signing a petition calling for the change.
Major Gill, who sits alongside councillors and officers on the council's Taxi Forum and who is the Coventry taxi branch chairman of the union Unite, said the creation of the extra spaces was vital for the safety of shoppers. Currently there is room for just four vehicles on the corner of Palmer Lane with others waiting on double yellow lines further down the road. And while drivers have an agreement for them to do that currently, the completion of the multi-million pound River Sherbourne project in the city centre will bring a stop to that arrangement.
Plans for a revised rank on The Burges/Cross Cheaping was prepared and presented to the Taxi Forum back in July 2024. But a subsequent council report said the work would cost around £30,000 with the costs associated with utilities and drainage on top of that.
It added: “Currently, the proposal is unfunded and, as such, not in a position to proceed. It is therefore proposed to retain the proposed design and to await funding opportunities which may enable it to come forward at a point in the future."
The petition presented to the council was signed by 1,648 members of the public and Mr Gill is concerned that many are now cautious of going into parts of the city centre fearful for their safety. He said the figure quoted was a small price to pay for safety and piece of mind.
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"As a taxi driver, what we see is unthinkable, unbelievable and only a fraction gets reported," he added.
"The Burges is not a safe place. The thought of having only four cabs is unthinkable because sometimes all four can go at the same time. It is not a good place for the elderly or mothers with kids to wait."
The proposed plan which is now on hold would have seen wheelchair accessible taxis using the existing four-car rank with a new one for nine taxis created in Cross Cheaping. Historically there was a rank there - paid for by a group of 40 drivers from Tiffany Taxis - but this was lost nearly 20 years ago.
Mr Gill added: "There are other taxi ranks but people tend to head to this one. For the first time in a long time all the shops are occupied in The Burges and we just want people to be safe and enjoy the city centre."
