Taxi Driver Online

June 14, 2007 Thursday

Clacton: Blockade!

James Dwan

Gazette

Coastal cabbies are threatening to blockade a seaside town if road restrictions are not lifted.

Tendring Taxi Drivers' Association warned that drivers are willing to cause havoc in Clacton town centre if Essex County Council and Tendring Council do not let them use central Pier Avenue.

The drivers claim they are losing trade because the new restrictions are stopping them from dropping off passengers outside shops.

The county council's highways safety improvement scheme, part of the £3.2 million town centre improvement project running in conjunction with Tendring Council, has seen cars and taxis barred from the road between 10am and 4pm.

Cabbies have called for their access to be reinstated ,along with a rank, and for action to stop the public parking in a taxi rank in West Avenue.

Alan Kirkham, vice-chairman of the association, said: "Taxi drivers will take the situation into their own hands if the council does not sort it out."

He added: "We don't want this action to take place, but we are losing our livelihoods."

Officials from county hall met cabbies yesterday and gave assurances they would try to find the best way forward.

A county council spokesman said: "Essex County Council is fairly flexible but our meeting is on hold until Tendring Council can help to decide the best solution. Any blockade or go-slow is on hold and we hope to have some positive news soon."
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