Taxi Driver Online

A rare piece from the Rhyl, Prestatyn & Abergele Journal


Taxi drivers feeling shunned by Council in Rhyl road closure

https://www.rhyljournal.co.uk/news/1987 ... d-closure/


Image: Rhyl Journal

TAXI drivers in Rhyl have expressed their disappointment at Denbighshire County Council’s decision to close High Street highway.

The measure is being undertaken to secure 123-125 High Street following an inspection by structural engineers which deemed the buildings to be unsafe.

As part of the demolition of the building, scaffolding will be put up to facilitate the work due to the condition of the building and its proximity to adjoining premises.

This demolition is expected to take up to three months to complete.

However, it is also a move that has generated discontent amongst the High Street traders, with some taking matters into their own hands.

With the temporary closure of the taxi rank to allow for the Council’s work, taxi drivers have established a ‘officially unofficial’ pop-up taxi rank outside Greggs, a defying move but one they claim has been forced upon them by the Council’s apparent lack of consideration.

Taxi driver Keith Taylor said: “This is the biggest rank in town, and we feel ostracised by the council.

“We are not the only ones – there are the local traders who are not happy either.

“When other buildings were demolished in the town those roads were not fully shut off, with just single lane closures. Whereas on the high street, they have fully closed it off.

“I don’t think council will accommodate whatsoever.

“They have suggested we move to nearby Wellington Road but that is a blue badge holder area, and they have a right, blue badge holders have a right to that space.

“We are a business, we’re trying to make a living, especially in the hard economic times right now.”

Councillor Hugh Evans OBE, Leader of Denbighshire County Council, said of the decision: “The closure of the highway was undertaken to ensure the safety of the public after structural engineers deemed the building was in a dangerous condition.

“Officers have spoken with businesses and taxi operators and we will be keeping in contact with them and discussing how we can support them throughout.

“We understand this has been difficult time for traders given the short notice around the closure and we want to thank them and members of the public for their understanding during this time.

"Officers have considered ways of keeping one lane open to traffic but unfortunately this causes risks to vehicles and pedestrians in particular at the junction at the end of the High Street, and consequently we had to make the regrettable decision to close both lanes to traffic.”

A spokesperson for the Council said: “Arrangements are in place to allow access for deliveries for businesses Monday to Saturday while the Council is also looking at alternative arrangements for the taxi rank in the area.”

Kind of reminds me of when our main night rank was closed because of Covid (can't remember if I mentioned that ), and the emergency rank they installed might as well have been miles away. And there was no communication or room for compromise because of the Covid 'emergency'.

Of course, not quite the same in Rhyl, and who knows what will happen, but just saying, like

Most sensible people will accept a rank needs to move if an adjacent building is going to fall down.

However, I'm assuming that not all the buildings in that area are liable to fall so why not officially just move the rank up or down the road?

Don't make drivers stress out that they are going to get ticketed or moved on, trying to earn a living in this trade for many is a struggle at the moment.

Just leave them alone FFS.

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IDFIMH

Leading to Greggs turnover trebling.

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IDFIMH