Furious York taxi drivers are threatening a go-slow protest ANGRY taxi drivers in York could stage a disruptive protest during the next race weekend.
Following heavy congestion around York Racecourse on Saturday, many drivers have criticised changes to the pick-up and drop-off points and some have proposed a ‘go-slow’ for upcoming meetings.
The next race meeting is the music showcase event on July 22 and 23.
Changes agreed by City of York Council, North Yorkshire Police and the racecourse saw buses pick up racegoers from directly outside the racecourse while the Hackney Carriage rank has moved into Campleshon Road. Drivers reported private hire vehicles from outside York picking up passengers illegally, and buses and coaches clogging up the road as almost 36,000 racegoers prepared to leave.
Hackney Carriage driver Saf Din said the changes meant he was stuck in traffic far longer than in previous years.
Mr Din said: “We feel, as a trade, we need to take the next step and have a go-slow, not picking passengers up on the busiest race night of the year. It’s not something we want to do, but we’re at the end of our tether.
“As soon as people come out they are being channelled to the buses - 200 people sent out, and they call for more buses. We will have paying passengers in the car, but they’re not going anywhere.”
Tim Brown, owner of Telecars Taxis, said he wanted to see a constructive solution, and agreed the Hackney Carriage rank should be reinstated at its previous location.
He said someone could be killed or injured by traffic following “stupid decisions made by people who haven’t got a clue”, and he would contact the council and Rachael Maskell MP with suggestions.
He said: “What people want is a solution and they want it quickly.
“Perhaps a few suggestions: put the buses back where they were, but put them a full two bus lengths' back up Campleshon Road to facilitate queueing by potential passengers; reinstate the Hackney Carriage rank to where it was since time begun; install a pedestrian crossing at the top of the racecourse road in the interests of road safety.”
Lesley Cooke, the council’s licensing manager, said the new arrangements were a trial.
She said: “After the May race days, all partners agreed that the private hire pick-up points would move back to their original location for the June and July meetings.
“However, difficulties arose from private and out of town vehicles picking up and parking outside these arrangements which blocked the road and affected traffic flow. Other feedback from the weekend’s traffic management arrangements has already been received and is under review.”
James Brennan, from York Racecourse, said stewards marshalled the queues, and the changes were made to better separate vehicles and pedestrians, and to improve safety.
He said: “Regrettably, the unauthorised actions of a limited number of drivers who choose to stop where they wish, can have a knock on effect on any system and we are looking at ways to mitigate this, so giving the new system the best opportunity to settle in. This will require the cooperation of all parties.”
Mr Brennan said the changes were constantly under review, with amendments already made and more possible in future, and admitted “there is a challenge in communicating the new arrangements, in particular to out of town private hire operators”.
source:
http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/1461636 ... w_protest/
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