Council looks to stop Banstead Waitrose taxi rank 'misuse by London cabbies doing shopping'http://www.epsomguardian.co.uk/news/162 ... ping__39_/A taxi rank outside a supermarket is being "misused" by London cabbies wanting to do their shopping, a resident has claimed.
The remarks were made as part of a public question calling for better enforcement of the two-spaced bay outside Waitrose in Banstead.
In his submission to Surrey County Council and Reigate and Banstead Local Committee, Iain Gordon said borough taxis rarely used the space and that it should be designated a disabled parking space in a bid to regain control for drivers.
His question to the committee said: “The ‘rank’ is regularly misused by London taxi drivers for parking, while doing their own private shopping.
“Very rarely is there a Reigate and Banstead taxi there, and even then it is unoccupied and not plying for hire.”
He said a Freedom of Information request revealed the misuse of the bay was "unenforceable", and said: “In view of all this it may well be an asset to the community if the ‘unenforceable rank’ were to be designated for ‘disabled parking’.”
Speaking at the meeting held at Reigate Town Hall on Tuesday, June 5, Councillor Graham Knight said two hackney carriage associations in the borough had requested it remain a taxi rank, but admitted “enforcement had fallen through the cracks”.
He said the police were in a position to enforce correct usage of the bay but committee members were still unclear on a number of parking issues and whose responsibility it was the enforce restrictions.
Committee chairman Cllr Jeff Harris said he would look at who was in charge of enforcing the rank with Surrey police and crime commissioner David Munro.
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