Taxi drivers have welcomed a move to introduce a new rank in Preston city centre in time for Christmas.
Lancashire County Council has agreed to introduce a temporary, nine-space rank on Charnley Street, off Fishergate, from Tuesday.
Cab drivers have been calling for months for a ‘feeder’ rank to give them a spot to park while waiting for spaces to become available at Preston Railway Station.
Earlier this year number of drivers recently had five points put on their taxi licences for illegally parking on Charnley Street or Falkland Street, leading to claims there were not enough spaces for cabs in the city centre.
The new 24-hour rank will be in place for a trial period over the next 18 months and could become permanent if judged a success.
Mark Selley, of the Preston Hackney Carriage Association, said the rank would benefit both customers and drivers.
He said: “The county council agreed with us that the area was poorly serviced in terms of ranks as there is nothing from the station to Yates (on Church Street) which is a big chunk of the town.
“What it means for the people of Preston is when they are weighed down with Christmas shopping, they will not have to walk to the station to get a taxi.
“It will also act as an overspill, should the two ranks at the station be full, as there are often more drivers than there is space for.”
The move will see the pay and display machines scrapped and the loss of a disabled parking space, which highways bosses are hoping to replace at a nearby location.
Coun Tim Ashton, cabinet member for highways and transport at LCC, said: “Making it easier to find a taxi is good for commuters, shoppers, businesses and the economy.
“It hasn’t been easy to find space in such a busy city centre for a new taxi rank and I’m very pleased we’ve been able to work with Preston City Council to come up with a solution that has been warmly welcomed by the taxi drivers.”
Coun Dave Hammond, chairman of the city council’s licensing committee, added: “Taxi drivers have been asking for a new taxi rank in the city centre to help them pick up and drop passengers off.
“We’re pleased to respond and get this new taxi rank open in time for the busy Christmas and New Year period.
“It is very close to the main shopping centre and only a short walk from the railway station.”
Mike Thorpe, head of licensing at Preston Council, said a wider review of taxi rank provision was underway in the city, with highways bosses looking at locations suggested by cab drivers.
He said: “We’re hoping to have a meeting in the new year to consider the findings from that review.”
There are currently 14 street ranks in Preston, with a total of 99 spaces, and a further 20 at the private rank at the railway station.
In the past cabbies have claimed there is a “chronic” shortage of spaces in Preston.
http://www.lep.co.uk/community/local_services_2_1889/shoppers_get_new_taxi_rank_1_2857090
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