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For those who don't know, "Frankie Clark" is a celebrity on TDO. He is a Gateshead cab driver who came to fame when he told the local press nearly two years ago that he worked 80 hours a week and took home 2.60 for every hour he worked. Some of us where and probably still are a little sceptical at Frankies revelations but it is good to see he is alive and kicking and has surfaced once again to claim his celebrity status.
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October 15, 2004, Friday Edition 1
HEADLINE: MetroCentre rank ban angers cabbies
BYLINE: By Paul James, The Journal
Angry taxi drivers claim a 'ban' from collecting shoppers at the newest jewel in the North-East's retail crown is threatening their jobs.
The black cabs have had no designated taxi rank at Gateshead's MetroCentre since its bus station closed for refurbishment two years ago.
The new bus station opened to traffic earlier this month along with the 40-shop extension to the Red Mall but there was no sign of new taxi ranks at either.
Drivers say they used to earn up to 100 a week collecting shoppers from the shopping centre, where the new 85m Red Mall has reaffirmed its status as the biggest in Europe.
Some have been forced to work large amounts of overtime to make up the extra cash, while others almost folded because of the drop in business two years ago.
They claim protests aimed at opposing the plans for the new mall visited by 500,000 shoppers in its first week were only called off because of reassurances from MetroCentre bosses that a new taxi rank would be installed.
But MetroCentre general manager Ron Woodman last night said the previous taxi rank had been abused by black cabs, a new one had never been promised to the drivers, and would also go against police advice.
A list of taxi numbers is placed at every telephone and customer services desk in the shopping centre, with taxi operators free to add their name to the roll.
Gateshead taxi driver Frankie Clark, a hackney carriage driver of 15 years, said he used to pick up at least a dozen shoppers a day from the old bus station.
Both the Gateshead Hackney Carriage Drivers Association and the Transport and General Workers Union have lobbied MetroCentre chiefs for a new designated rank.
Mr Clark, 44, from Broadbank, Wardley, Gateshead, used to be a daytime driver, but had to start working into the night when he almost went bankrupt.
He said: "We were promised a taxi rank and that's why nobody objected to the Red Mall. On an average day I used to get between 12 and 18 pick-ups at the MetroCentre and earn between 60 and 100 from there.
"It's atrocious. Since they've banned a taxi rank I nearly went bankrupt, but pulled myself through by working longer hours and into the night."
Mr Woodman said negotiations were at an advanced stage with a taxi operator who will guarantee arriving within set time limits. He said: "When we had a taxi rank there was wholesale abuse. Taxis were parking illegally, particularly in our bus station, which caused accidents.
"The company that had the rank and office decided to leave they said there wasn't enough year-round business.
"A taxi rank is opposed by the police. In their experience, they encourage gatherings that could end up providing a problem. And we don't get any complaints from members of the public about getting taxis. They [drivers] have been lobbying for one for a long time but there were never any promises there would be a taxi rank."
Police said the taxi areas had been prone to disorder in the past, and officers had been reluctant to support any proposals for a new rank at the MetroCentre.
But a spokesman for Gateshead Council said last night its Taxi Working Group intended to discuss the issue.
The group includes licensing officers and taxi drivers and the meeting is to take place on October 27.
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