Clacton: Cabbies appeal for yellow line dispensation
Gazette!
TAXI drivers say they should be allowed to park on yellow lines near a busy pick-up spot.
John Brigden, chairman of the Morrisons Taxi Rank Association, said the parking spaces provided for taxis outside Morrisons, at the Waterglade Retail Park, in Old Road, Clacton, were not sufficient.
The current taxi rank is due to be expanded next summer from four spaces to an area with space for about 15 cabs.
Mr Brigden said until the new rank was built, temporary parking agreements needed to be made for taxis.
He admitted some taxi drivers were parking illegally on yellow lines, but said the association was policing its members to make sure they did not block residents’ homes or cause obstructions.
He said a number of drivers had also received tickets for parking illegally in the area, which made their work unprofitable.
Mr Brigden said many people, including the vulnerable and elderly, used the service.
“We are the fifth emergency service,” he said.
Taxi drivers are now calling for a meeting with Essex County Council to agree a way forward and hope they will be allowed to park on yellow lines in some areas until the new rank has been built.
Nigel Brown, Tendring Council spokesman, said: “We have received an increasing number of complaints about the issue of the taxis parked up in the area of the rank outside the Waterglade site waiting for a space to become free.
“As a result of that, a number of tickets have been issued to those vehicles which have been parked incorrectly.”
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