Slightly different to the usual stuff about PHV access to bus lanes where HCs are allowed.
But at least the journalist is bang on with the private hire v taxi terminology. Trouble is, one of the firms is called A&B Taxis, which is presumably a PH operator, so must confuse casual readers - they must wonder why the 'taxi' firm would want access if they're getting it already?
Private hire vehicle ban plan for at Southernhay
https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/192526 ... uthernhay/
Image: Echo News
FURIOUS residents fear plans to ban private hire vehicles from a key supermarket pick-up point would be “catastrophic”.
A petition has been launched against plans unveiled by Essex County Council to form a “transit mall” in the Southernhay area between Basildon bus and train station.
The order would see the road to the south of the Asda store at Eastgate Shopping Centre become a bus lane and gate.
This includes a lay-by on Southernhay which is used by private hire vehicles to pick up and drop-off shoppers.
The plans would mean only taxis could use the lay-by.
Gary Brand, owner of A&B Taxis and Mayflower Car Services, who started the petition on change.org, wrote: “This will affect all private hire driver in the town, and also the customers that want to continue to use the firm of their choice and drivers they know when being dropped or collected from the current pickup point outside Asda, which we have had access to for over 30 years.”
Mr Brand added losing the lay-by “would be catastrophic”.
Mark Langford, who also works as a private hire driver, said: “25 years in trade this is most important pickup area in Basildon for our customers, many of them are old and frail and rely on us to get them home safely with the minimum of fuss.
“Losing this pickup area would be devastating to the trade we are still struggling with the effects of Covid this could be a final nail in the coffin for many drivers.”
An Essex Highways spokesman said: “A request to use bus lanes in general was made by the Private Hire trade and this issue was specifically considered by officers from the two councils when planning the Basildon Town Centre Improvement scheme.
“To retain the standard approach it was decided not to amend vehicular entitlements to use bus lanes as a general rule, however the situation will be reviewed in the future.
“Private hire vehicles make an important contribution to travel for residents, but there is a balance in keeping to a reasonable minimum the volume of vehicles using this area to avoid congestion and improve quality of life in the town centre generally.”
