Taxi Driver Online

To say this article is one-sided is to put it mildly. Brief mention that the move is 'at odds' with the trade (and taxi passengers), but that's about it.

But one committee member (who's also on the licensing committee) says it's "imperative that this be moved to a permanent little parking place for people".

And she's been approached by 'business people'. Maybe people in the trade don't count as business people

And obviously only those 'business people' have been affected by lockdown, and not the trade

Maybe I'm reading too much into this, and perhaps the trade really not that bothered. But I'm reading it in the context of some of the stuff that's gone on locally in Fife, and it's a subject close to my heart


Newark and Sherwood District Council plans to replace Kirkgate taxi ranks with short-stay parking approved unanimously

https://www.newarkadvertiser.co.uk/news ... y-9287946/

Plans to remove four taxi spaces on Kirkgate, Newark, in favour of short-term parking were approved unanimously at a committee meeting.

The move is in contrast to the views of taxi companies and cab users consulted who wanted the Kirkgate spaces to be used for taxis again after they were given over for short-term parking during covid.

However, the move is in line with the thoughts of businesses who feel that having permanent temporary parking in the town centre would be a boost to trade and footfall.

It was at a meeting of the district council's general purposes committee in June this year that councillors floated the removal of the Kirkgate taxi ranks to provide parking spaces for shoppers for up to 30 minutes.

During the early months of the pandemic, temporary traffic regulations were introduced.

It resulted in the closure of Middlegate, resulting in some parking areas being no longer available.

To compensate, Kirkgate taxi rank designation became temporary parking with limited waiting.

A consultation within Newark licensed drivers, businesses and residents followed the June meeting and the results were reported back to the committee last week for final decision.

Committee member Sue Saddington said: “I was approached by the business people in the town and I think it is imperative that this be moved to a permanent little parking place for people.

“We all know that after covid restrictions where we were all locked down the town suffered and clearly is still being suffered.”

The rank on Middlegate is used to predominantly for pick ups during the day and at night, while the Castlegate rank largely serves an evening clientele.

Mrs Saddington added: “If this becomes a place where people can park for a short period of time, nip to the market, buy their vegetables, come back with fairly heavy stuff and they haven’t got far to walk.

“I would like to see this as a permanent feature and I hope the committee will support it for the sake of Newark business and market.”

Also that Kirkgate does not have enough parking spaces and that other ranks in town, including Middlegate are being misused.

Councillor Peter Harris said: “I support the notion of making the Kirkgate area for short-term parking, I think that would be helpful to visitors and shoppers in the town.

“It’s a short stay, maybe 30 minutes is the right length of time, I’ll leave that to local members from Newark to determine but I do think it is a deterrence when you don’t have short-stay parking as we have found in Southwell.”

Could be wrong, but I would assume there aren't that many ranks in central Newark, and to that extent the trade will be gutted that it's gone. Although looks like it's been out of use since lockdown started, so maybe they've just adjusted by now.

But this is the Streetview from August 2020 showing the signs closing the rank in favour of 30-minute parking for lockdown, now a permanent arrangement. Looks like only three or four rank spaces or so (the first couple are disabled spaces), but, you know...

https://www.google.com/maps/@53.0772835 ... 384!8i8192

I think a lot of the taxis tend to rank up at Northgate station rather than in town or at castle gate but it's still an example of councils taking provision off the trade to help car drivers instead of providing for the needs of non car drivers.


I would love to see the government forcing councils to provide a minimum of 1 rank space for every 3 hackney plates issued and in areas convenient for people not stuck out of the way but of course the bus companies always have the biggest influence over councils.

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

Are there any bigger customers for local businesses than the cab trade?

If I had a cake or coffee shop I would be as happy as Larry having a rank outside, and if I was a Greggs shareholder, I would be jumping for joy.

I suspect the businesses don't really want those parking spaces for punters, they want them for their own use.

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IDFIMH

Or for favoured businesses, or favoured members of the public.

Won't go into the details, but there's a conflict here between rank space and loading bays. But some businesses use loading bays as free 24/7/365 parking. There's a couple of vehicles which I rarely *don't* see parked in loading bays. Yet I can go months without seeing anyone actually enter or exit the vehicle, or move it, never mind actually loading or unloading

I would think there's probably an element of party or election funding involved. In exchange for which the parking bays replace the taxis allegedly.

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