New Taxi Ranks For Honiton
06 October 2009
East Devon District Council wants to hear from the people of Honiton about proposed improvements to taxi rank provision in the town, with three times as many spaces.
At a meeting of the council's licensing and enforcement committee on September 29, members agreed to appoint two areas on the northern side of Honiton's High Street as taxi ranks. It is proposed that one rank, for four vehicles, will be located near the Manor House and the other rank, for three vehicles, will be located just to the east side of the entrance to the Baptist Church, so more than trebling the space for cabs.
Residents are now being asked to give their views on the proposals, which are the result of a solution brokered by the former market supervisor, Terry Farebrother.
Honiton currently has just one taxi rank, accommodating only two vehicles at any one time. An EDDC spokesman said this did not provide enough space for all the taxis needed to service the town so that, when the ranks were full, drivers had trouble finding somewhere to wait for fares. Although the population of Honiton had increased dramatically over the past 20 years, with a corresponding increase in the use of taxis, there had been no similar increase in rank space.
Said the spokesman: "Over the years, there have been several attempts to identify additional space. There was local opposition, earlier this year, to a proposal by Devon County Council's highways department that a rank should be located in the High Street, near its junction with Silver Street. This, however, created a catalyst for the solution proposed by Terry, which has now been approved by the licensing and enforcement committee."
The new proposals are supported by the Police, Honiton Town Council, the Baptist Church, Honiton and District Chamber of Trade and Commerce and the East Devon Hackney Carriage Association.
It is also proposed that the two spaces on the existing rank would be returned to normal parking use and be available for stalls on market days.
Honiton residents now have the opportunity to comment on the proposals. A plan showing the proposed location of the ranks is available for viewing at Honiton Town Council Offices between 10am and 1pm on weekdays and at East Devon District Council's Offices, Knowle, Sidmouth, during normal working hours.
Comments should be sent to the Licensing Manager, East Devon District Council, Knowle, Sidmouth, EX10 8HL to be received no later than Wednesday, November 4.
Source;
Devon24.co.uk
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