Taxi Driver Online

Sounds like a carbon copy of our own rank

Nice photo of the, er, Pavillion Cinema, though


Galashiels: Taxi drivers 'fed up' over rank parking abuse

https://www.bordertelegraph.com/news/19 ... ing-abuse/


Photo: Helen Barrington, 2020/Border Telegraph

TAXI drivers in Galashiels say they are “fed up” of receiving abuse from people parking in their allocated spaces.

Drivers in the town say they are regularly targeted when asking other motorists not to park in their rank on Channel Street.

And they fear there will be no resolution, despite complaining to Police Scotland and Scottish Borders Council.

Frustrated taxi drivers told the Border Telegraph that before they can park in Channel Street they have to drive around the town two or three times before a space becomes free.

One of the drivers, Hugo Santos, said: “Everyone is really fed up.

“Channel Street is one-way and sometimes there are four cars in the rank with no one in the cars and we have to go around the town and lose time and money.”

Mr Santos, who has worked as a taxi driver for the last three-and-a-half-years, added: “Taxis are important in the Borders.

“It’s a rural area and the buses don’t cover everywhere.

“We’re not supposed to get abuse. It’s completely unacceptable.”

The drivers also say they believe it is not clear who is responsible for enforcing the parking restrictions on the Channel Street taxi rank.

“It’s beyond a joke,” said Alastair Macdonald of Quick Cabs.

“Scottish Borders Council and the police keep passing the buck.

“No one can admit responsibility.”

According to rule 240 of the Highway Code, motorists are not to park in “taxi bays as indicated by upright signs and markings”.

A SBC spokesperson said: “Taxi drivers have been provided with appropriate advice on a number of occasions regarding this matter.

“In terms of enforcement, I can confirm that this is a matter for Police Scotland.”

This newspaper also contacted Police Scotland for comment.

However, no response had been received at the time of publication.

I'd say illegal parking on our main night rank is worse since lockdown was lifted. Which is a complete pain, obviously, particularly as the smaller number of taxis around would have meant the ten official spaces would have now been adequate most of the time, but for the fact that the increase in illegal parking has undermined that.

Part of the reason for that is maybe because the fewer taxis around means there tends to be more available ranks space more of the time, thus non-taxis come along and drive into the free spaces, whereas in the past there was less chance of there being free spaces because of the amount of taxis.

Another major factor is the takeaway half way up the rank on the other side of the road, and many of the Deliveroo drivers use the taxi rank when they go into the takeaway for their pick-ups.

Again, the fact that there tends to be more free space on the rank means the Deliveroo drivers are more likely to use the rank, thus when more taxis appear they can't get on.

But I suspect there's been a big change in the Deliveroo rider/driver demgraphic over lockdown. Previously, I suspect it was mainly white students *on bikes* working for Deliveroo, but now it's more likely to be youngish, male migrants in *cars* doing it, so to that extent it's problematic as regards parking on the rank

Anyway, since I didn't win the Euromillions last night (again), I won't be writing my book on our taxi ranks any time soon. Not yet, anyway

Not sure if he works the ranks much, but isn't Skippy in Gala?

Or is he retired now? Certainly haven't seen him on here much in last couple of years. Maybe he's just 'retired' from the forum

The whole article is clear evidence that that council couldn't give two shiny s***s about the taxi trade.

Shame on them.

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IDFIMH

If that happened down here I would advise the local taxi trade to object to the take aways late license.

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IDFIMH

That's something I had considered. But, in a nutshell, and to avoid writing 1,000 words on why it might not be a good idea, it's the same people who couldn't care less about the taxi rank chaos who are also responsible for licensing the takeaway

One good example last week, though, when one of the lads from the takeway was going up the rank speaking to drivers, accusing them of photographing his wife, who I think had parked on the rank for an hour or so. He was a bit lairy, and looked a bit tasty, and at least half my age, so at a couple of years off 60 and at 9-stone something and with my various aches and pains, didn't really fancy getting into a row with him. I've seen some of the guys who work in there in action

And, of course, there are, er, language barriers, and you worry about the race card being played.

Anyway, I started getting a bit annoyed, and was about to say to him that he was welcome to phone the police if he had any issues, or I'd phone the police for him if he didn't go away, but just at that point he went off to talk to another driver, and then disappeared.

And, assuming things escalated and the police and/or council got involved, because they prefer to just ignore the whole thing then I wouldn't trust them as regards apportioning blame etc.

And there's also the related issue of the bickering between drivers caused by the whole thing, which prevents everyone getting together to try to do something about it.

And some of the drivers are friends with the staff or management of the takeway, and disappear in there to go to the toilet while leaving their cab on the rank

(Meanwhile, I've often done a round trip of a mile or so just to find somewhere for a quick pee rather than leave my car on the rank.)

It's maybe a wee bit like the Chesterfield scenario - complain about the pub and club staff parking on the rank and you don't know whose nose will be put out of joint. So it's maybe no surprise the Chesterfield driver won't give his name, but in turn this means police and council less likely to do something (apart from the usual blather in a press release).

(Actually, when I said earlier I could easily write 1,000 words on the subject, call it 10,000 words. At least.)

This is Skippy's' home town is it not; I wonder if he's still working and can enhance the written word ?

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

We have a similar problem on one of our main ranks, Bridge street. The biggest problems are delivery drivers from the sushi and five guys restaurants. The problem is they both close at 11pm and therefore don’t require a license.

Aye, Gala is Skippys patch, though it is a wee bit of a worry that he hasn't posted for many months.