Taxi Driver Online

'More taxi ranks needed' to improve transport
Julie Hemmings
THE number of taxi ranks in Ryedale could be trebled in an effort to integrate transport links better across the district.

Taxi licensing officer Laural Huntington will tell councillors meeting this week that taxis are an "integral part" of the district's transport system and many residents use them in areas where public transport is not available. At present there are 38 licensed taxis in the district, with three ranks – one at Eastgate in Pickering and two in Malton, at the railway station and the Market Place.

A shortage of ranks was first raised in summer 2005 and a review of the service has been underway since with taxi operators, town and county councils, the North York Moors National Park Authority, North Yorkshire police and local residents and businesses.

Proposals to improve the service include plans for another full-time rank in Pickering and five part-time at Helmsley, Kirkbymoorside, Pickering and two in Malton.

The time-restricted ranks would operate on a trial basis initially, mainly between 6pm and 6am, when demand rises.

Extra ranks also would cut the number of unnecessary journeys and the associated environmental pollution.

In a report to Ryedale councillors ahead of their meeting on Thursday, Ms Huntington said that after dropping off passengers vehicles had to return to their base if they could not find a space on a rank.

This could lead to a Malton taxi dropping off customers in Helmsley but, because there is no rank for them to park up and wait for business, having to drive the 15 miles back to Malton before finding another customer.

Under the proposals, new two-space, part-time ranks would be created in the Market Places at Helmsley and Kirkbymoorside.

The Malton Market Place rank would move to the opposite side of the road to ensure easier access by disabled people but the railway station rank, which is on private land, would be unaffected.

In Pickering, the Eastgate rank would remain with a new time-restricted bay in the Market Place and a two-car rank in the Ropery car park, if councillors agree to the loss of parking spaces which together bring in £6,000 in fees per year.

If councillors back the proposals the new arrangements would come into force next year and be reviewed in 2008.

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Yes, but what they failed to say is the Railway Stn taxi rank in Malton, albiet council taxi rank, but in theory the land it is owned by a builder namely, Harrison construction Co ltd, and you have to pay for a permit to use the rank
you couldn't make this up, or could you

This area is extremely rural isnt it Pete? A few large villages?

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Very rural Capt, yes remote villages surrounding the place, its on the way to Scarborough, not many trains passing through, maybe a dozen or so a day, who would want to go there, its farming area, lots of closed up shops, think there is a steel stockholder and a bacon factory are the main places of work,
oh plenty of car dealerships servicing the money people, Bm's Merc's, Range Rover. an odd petrol stn, so you have to make sure you got fuel in before they shut for the night
38 hacks, I don't know where they get the work from, they never used the ranks as nearly all got a radio in and work from offices, it used to be a quid to go anywhere, the place is empty after 11, same during the day

Ahh, that'll be why I recognise the names of the places, its on the way to Scarborough via that bloody big hill !

As you suggest, I imagine the works all via the phones, Pickering will be about the largest town on route, and that'll be seasonal.

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

If Sussex wants a plate he can have plate number 39, as there is no restrictions on plates, anyone can get one, its the biggest/largest county in england, but its so remote, Malton must be the Capital of this area.

The big hill, Whitwell on the Hill, can be a struggle to get up it, but coming back you can get 90mph downhill without using any throttle, thats where the police check sits right at the bottom of the hill

I'm only interested if I can have six drivers to work it 24/7.

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IDFIMH

I don't think you would like it, to work there, when we pick someone up and they say Malton, we all taxi drivers] at night get the same funny feeling, Malton, that will be cash up front please, I'm not saying all are dishonest, but most of our problems with runners come from that part of the county

I had freinds in Malton.

Green Howard country

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Once a Green Howard, Always a Green Howard, your ex Infantry then??

I can remember strensall with horror

Part of the Kings division, we did our training with Green Howards, Duke of Wellingtons, Queens Lancs, Kings.....but the government have kind of screwed it all up now!

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin