Taxi Driver Online

Cabbies welcome plans for a weekend taxi rank in Stamford


A TAXI driver has praised plans to create a weekend taxi rank for shoppers.

Imran Siddique called for South Kesteven District Council to make more space for taxis in Broad Street, Stamford in October after police clamped down on drivers parking outside the current rank.

Mr Siddique was one of a number of taxi drivers to put forward the idea of a temporary weekend rank in Star Lane in November and the council has now decided to look into the possibility.

Mr Siddique, who has been driving for Silver Cabs for more than a year, said: “I think it is a lovely proposal. It is the best place to pick people up on a Friday when there are a lot of vulnerable people out there.”

Taxis are normally allowed to wait for passengers between 10.30pm and 4am from Wednesdays to Saturdays. But on Fridays the street is closed off to make way for the market.

Taxis have been picking people up from the bus station in St Peter’s Hill in recent weeks but the area is not an official taxi rank.

Mr Siddique added: “When people finish shopping they have to travel all the way to the bus stop for a taxi and it is a long way.

“A lot of older people don’t use mobile phones so can’t call a taxi to pick them up. It can be very hard for them to carry all their bags that way.

“And there are only small posters saying that taxis will be at the bus station and people don’t know where to go.”

Mr Siddique thinks Star Lane is the best location for a rank and says it will help people who don’t live in Stamford but come in to the town to shop.

He said: “Star Lane is the best place for the rank. People don’t have to walk far from the market area.

“We hear a lot of people complaining when we pick them up that it is hard to get a taxi on a Friday. They are often coming in from the villages.

“It is going to be best for everybody if we can park on Star Lane. It will give us more business and mean we are not just waiting around at the bus stop.”

Mr Siddique said the council is keeping him and his fellow drivers updated on the plans. The council confirmed it was going to begin consultation on the proposal, but no date was set for discussions to start.

http://www.stamfordmercury.co.uk/news/b ... _1_3532246

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

No No NO this was a proposal by the county council 2 years ago but was shelved because the funding for other works in the vicinity was cancelled so the rank was cancelled

This bloke is just a publicity seeker and ought to learn to keep his gob shut he ain't been here long and knows nothing of the history and struggle of the trade to get any sort of rank facilities

1) Access to and from Star lane on a friday is difficult although it is a hellof a lot nearer the market than we currently sit
2) This is where most of the blue badge holders park on a friday and it would be well nigh impossible to to keep the rank from filling up with blue badged parkers
3) Most customers prefer to be picked up from tescos just round the corner or at the bottom (downhill) end of the high street i.e. the square
4) there was a rank on Star Lane for nearly 10 years the taxis wouldn't use it because you never got a fare

The rank needs to be situated where it is convenient for customers irrespective of whether that means less available parking for other road users a much better site would be facing down St Pauls street with the front rank position near tescos after all its always full of illegally parked cars on the single yellows anyway so taxis parking along there won't make any difference although it might to their earnings Fridays used to be a good day now people queue for buses in the rain rather than walk up to where the taxis have to sitmind you only a few of us obey the rules

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Cabbies welcome plans for a weekend taxi rank in Stamford


Taxi driver Imran Siddque with his taxi in Star Lane where South Kesteven District Council is considering introducing taxi ranks

A TAXI driver has praised plans to create a weekend taxi rank for shoppers.


Imran Siddique called for South Kesteven District Council to make more space for taxis in Broad Street, Stamford in October after police clamped down on drivers parking outside the current rank.

Mr Siddique was one of a number of taxi drivers to put forward the idea of a temporary weekend rank in Star Lane in November and the council has now decided to look into the possibility.

Mr Siddique, who has been driving for Silver Cabs for more than a year, said: “I think it is a lovely proposal. It is the best place to pick people up on a Friday when there are a lot of vulnerable people out there.”

Taxis are normally allowed to wait for passengers between 10.30pm and 4am from Wednesdays to Saturdays. But on Fridays the street is closed off to make way for the market.

Taxis have been picking people up from the bus station in St Peter’s Hill in recent weeks but the area is not an official taxi rank.

Mr Siddique added: “When people finish shopping they have to travel all the way to the bus stop for a taxi and it is a long way.

“A lot of older people don’t use mobile phones so can’t call a taxi to pick them up. It can be very hard for them to carry all their bags that way.

“And there are only small posters saying that taxis will be at the bus station and people don’t know where to go.”

Mr Siddique thinks Star Lane is the best location for a rank and says it will help people who don’t live in Stamford but come in to the town to shop.

He said: “Star Lane is the best place for the rank. People don’t have to walk far from the market area.

“We hear a lot of people complaining when we pick them up that it is hard to get a taxi on a Friday. They are often coming in from the villages.

“It is going to be best for everybody if we can park on Star Lane. It will give us more business and mean we are not just waiting around at the bus stop.”

Mr Siddique said the council is keeping him and his fellow drivers updated on the plans. The council confirmed it was going to begin consultation on the proposal, but no date was set for discussions to start.

I didnt post in that colour......just for you edders

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

By the way where he is parked is the exact spot the rank used to be ! and if the front of the rank was facing that way it would be very awkward to access half the town because of the no left turn at the top cars would have to somehow do a 3 point turn on a VERY busy junction

_________________
lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector