As per usual, although the details might be different, we can all identify with the pro-bus/anti-car vibe about all this
New Southampton Ring Road rules would 'make life harder'https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/264792 ... fe-harder/Proposals for strict new ‘no stopping’ restrictions on a major route in Southampton city centre have sparked opposition from taxi drivers.Southampton City Council unveiled the scheme for a red route with the aim of reducing congestion, improving safety and supporting more reliable bus services.
Taxi drivers are concerned that they would lose the ability to pick up in the restricted area and drop off passengers close to their destinations.
Other motorists claimed the measures were “anti-car”, an “unnecessary waste of money” that would not improve the city’s traffic problems.
Image: Southampton Daily EchoSeven months after the consultation closed, the council has yet to announce whether it will proceed with the proposals.
Documents obtained by the Local Democracy Reporting Service through a Freedom of Information request reveal substantial opposition to the plans, particularly from taxi drivers.
The FOI response showed 176 responses were submitted during the consultation, with 76 objections and 70 expressions of support.
The remaining 30 responses were listed as comments.
More than a dozen objections highlighted the impact on taxi and private hire vehicles
One respondent said the scheme would make it “impossible” for taxis to pick up or drop off passengers, leading to significant problems for customers needing to be dropped close to their destination.
Another accused the council of imposing a “blatant restriction of trade” for businesses and taxis.
Supporters of the scheme argued vehicles stopping on the ring road regularly delayed traffic and buses and welcomed proposals to extend restrictions into St Mary's Road.
In London, licensed black cabs and private hire vehicles displaying a red-route exemption disc are allowed to stop to collect and set down passengers.
Details released at the time of the Southampton consultation did not propose a general exemption enabling pickups and drop-offs along the red route.
Simon May, chief executive of Radio Taxis Southampton, said: “Why can’t it be the same in Southampton?
Image: Southampton Daily EchoWe have a lot of passengers with limited mobility requirements so we need to be able to pick them up.
“It is already hard enough around the city to pick up and drop off passengers, so I think this would make it more difficult.”
The proposed red route would cover key sections of the city centre road network, running from Western Esplanade to Dorset Street via the Ring Road and Charlotte Place Roundabout, as well as St Mary's Road.
Existing yellow lines would be replaced by double red lines, which indicate no stopping is allowed at any time.
The city council said private hire vehicles would be able to stop in loading bays and bus stops only.
Deliveries would only be able to take place in the designated loading and parking bays.
Perry McMillan, a Unite the Union representative with a taxi licence in Southampton, told the LDRS: “They don’t seem to have thought this one through.
Image: Southampton Daily Echo“Yet again I think it is an example of the council not facilitating the use of the (taxi forum) consultation meetings where somebody from highways could have come along and explained what they were doing and got our feedback.
“That is the normal practice when something like this comes in. They come along and give us a presentation and then they get the feedback from us.”
Mr McMillan said he would be worried about anything that affects taxi drivers’ ability to pick up and drop off passengers.
He added: “I would certainly say you cannot have one rule for private hire and not for hackneys when it comes to picking up.
“What they have put down there is questionable, so we will watch this space.”
Private hire driver Ali Haydor said it was difficult to get around the city at peak times.
He said his concerns with the red route also centred around pick-ups and drop-offs, adding that this issue also applied to residents driving their own vehicles when they might have a family member or friend with limited mobility.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service asked Southampton City Council if it was planning to implement the red route.
At the time of publication, no response had been received.
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