Taxi Driver Online

Never sure what to think of these things - often it's just nimbyism, but on the other hand...

But without actually being there, knowing the history and precisely how the new facility would compare with the previous one..

But, for a start, it's not a taxi RANK

Not sure if that's an attempt to exaggerate what's planned. Or, as per the terminology used in other areas, it's maybe just the local lingo for what would be called a taxi office up here.

On the other hand, there's bound to be a bit of movement at night compared to the old driving school. And even if there's no actual walk-up facility for passengers, there's bound to be a bit more of a disturbance from this planned office, even if drivers are told not to go there at night, say.


Residents rally against planned Southampton taxi headquarters

https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/265685 ... dquarters/

Incensed residents have slammed plans for a new taxi headquarters - fearing disruptive noise into the night.

More than 200 people are opposed to the plans at the former driving test centre in Forest Hills Drive near Townhill Park, Southampton.

Resident Christine Wilton, 81, has secured more than 200 signatures on her petition against the 24-hour control room in three days after going door to door in the area.

She said: "It's going to be horrendous.

"It's an accident waiting to happen.

"Men will be outside all night talking, flashing their lights and revving their engines.

"We are just incensed. We've got to nip it in the bud right now and say 'not on our watch'."

The Townhill Park resident of 50 years said the former driving test centre rarely caused problems, and many residents would prefer to see its return instead of a taxi base.

She added: "I'm more concerned for the young couples than for myself.

"They've moved in without knowing of this plan and some are now more incensed than I am."

Paula Donauskaite, 32, said she was considering moving away after moving opposite the site last year for a safer suburban life for her four-year-old.

She said: "When the kids start running around outside it will be a constant worry. This is not the place for taxis."

Another mother, Abigail Oteng, 33, who has a four-month-old baby, said: "More noise means more suffering for my daughter."

The Townhill Park Community Group is backing the petition.

The proposed headquarters would operate 24 hours a day as JSY Travel’s office and control room following the company expanding.

The application says only a small number of minibuses and larger passenger vehicles would be parked there overnight. It would not function as a taxi rank.

JSY Travel says the taxi base would see fewer vehicle movements than the former driving test centre, where candidates arrived, left and carried out manoeuvres throughout the day.

The site has been vacant since the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency closed the test centre in April 2022.

A decision date for the planning application has not yet been set by Southampton City Council.

These are the photos used by the Echo, many of which look a tad similar

And the 'TAXI RANK' sign looks at tad amateurish, as well as misleading...

And using kids to promote stuff like this, eh?

It would be a taxi office, not a boy racer meet

But she's right in one respect - it would all be MEN

but many of their movements will be at night and by the looks of it a residential area

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

This is the building on the right here

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Fores ... FQAw%3D%3D

This is how the planning application was reported a few weeks ago.

I suppose if there's genuinely just one member of staff (a controller) outside normal office hours then I doubt it would be a lot different to the driving school.

But we all know how these things work, and maybe a couple of red flags in the highlighted paragraphs


Former Southampton driving test centre could become taxi HQ

https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/265056 ... e-taxi-hq/

A former driving test centre could be brought back into use as a round-the-clock taxi headquarters.



The vacant Forest Hills Drive site near Townhill Park in Southampton, which shut in April 2022, is the subject of a planning application from JSY Travel.

The firm wants to turn the former DVSA test centre into an office and control room for its taxi operations, while using the existing forecourt to park a small number of minibuses and larger passenger vehicles overnight.

It would not be used as a taxi rank.

Plans submitted to Southampton City Council state the business has expanded in recent years and needs a base for booking and operational staff, as well as space for vehicles used to carry larger groups.

The control room would operate 24 hours a day, but the application states staffing would be limited.

Up to two operatives and a manager could be on site during the day, which would fall to one operative overnight.

The site has been empty since the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency closed the test centre more than four years ago, moving tests to Southampton’s Maybush centre.

The building, which is close to the Townhill regeneration area, would not be extended or significantly altered under the proposals, with the plans described as “discreet” by JSY.

However, the applicant wants to install gates and railings on the existing boundary wall for security, add CCTV and install motion-activated lighting directed into the site.

The scheme would retain 11 parking spaces and one accessible bay. Two existing spaces would be removed to make way for a one-way system, with vehicles entering and leaving through separate access points.

The applicant said taxis would generally remain on the road during the day and stay with their drivers overnight, rather than regularly returning to Forest Hills Drive.

Only a limited number of minibuses or larger vehicles would be stored there overnight, according to the application.

The applicant argued the taxi base would create fewer vehicle movements than the former driving test centre, where candidates would arrive, depart and manoeuvre vehicles throughout the day.

It also said the office-based use would be unlikely to cause unacceptable noise or disturbance for nearby homes, despite operating through the night.

A decision date is yet to be set by the council.