Taxi Driver Online

This is a letter in the Stamford Mercury. Never a dull moment there, obviously

But, as opposed to Kent, this sounds more like up here in St Andrews


Stamford man concerned over taxi drivers in Broad Street

https://www.stamfordmercury.co.uk/news/ ... s-9299460/

Friday night after 6pm. I never thought a drive through Broad Street in Stamford would be so dramatic trying to find a parking space.

Driving from Red Lion Street towards the traffic lights I noticed so many parked vehicles, then I realised they were all taxis, snaking from the official taxi rank outside Barclays Bank all the way back past the Corn Exchange and past the dentist, possibly further.

The disabled space outside Nelsons Butchers was taken up by three taxis one parked parallel to the kerb the second at the side of the former and the third behind, so parking illegally. Seemed to be a total disregard to other road users as the taxis seem to park wherever they wanted.

My question is why are there so many taxis in Stamford? Is it because buses are non existent after 6pm?

I think the majority are from Peterborough.

How will the taxi drivers cope when the Mid Lent Fair arrives?

Trevor Wissen

Braemar Close, Stamford

Well if they're HCs ranking, then seems unlikely they're plated in Peterborough. But, as Edders always says, lots of Peterborough plated PHVs working Stamford. I think


Well that's certainly not the issue here in NE Fife. There's now a free student bus, which goes round and round and round the town from mid-evening until the early hours, doing a lot of the work the trade used to do

And the normal Stagecoach/Potemkin buses (as I call them) are all over the place, and all students and university staff get an 80% discount

Oh, and since last year, thanks to Nicola most students get *free* buses anywhere in Scotland. Just back from that skiing holiday, or a break in Cancun, or visiting family or friends 10,000 miles away, or on their way to a black-tie ball, and the Potemkin buses are just waiting to transport them FOC

On Broad street they would all be SKDC plated Hackneys although a few Rutland plated vehicles sometimes take up parking bays.

The problem with broad street is that it is free parking which is nearer to the town centre than the pay parking which is why everyone tries there first looking for a space (1Hr limit). It depends on what time of day you are there for instance I parked there at 08.55 this morning loads of spaces available (3 taxis only on the rank) but if I'd gone at 09.30 they would have all been taken.

Trade is not that great locally as people are being careful with their money as they have expensive holidays (15% up year on year) and big heating bills to pay. The Peterborough based drivers prefer to work evenings so there is always a lot more about which means when it's quiet you get over ranking and I have seen it far worse than that on a Saturday night between going into town time and going home time.

Every so often the police or more likely the traffic wardens have a blitz and order all the cars on double yellows etc. off but it like p*ss^ng into the wind as soon as the authorities are gone they return.

If anyone needs to get in or out of a space the taxis do move out of the way (eventually)

Recently the drivers have formed an unofficial union(allegedly) and have agreed that none of the local taxis are going to sit in the square which is perhaps also partly responsible for there being so many on broad street. The square though is where all the Peterborough PH sit on a Friday or Saturday night trying to pinch the local work whilst hoping to pick up a fare to Peterborough as there is quite a lot of trade going that way as Stamford is considered a safer town to go out drinking

Oh and yes buses are non existent evenings and weekends although I think the last one might just after 6pm

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

A question that has racked many a brain.

_________________
IDFIMH

simples form an unofficial rank from the square round all saints place we've been doing it for 30 years ! He's clearly not a local probably only moved to the town in the last few years probably on the back of the fake newspaper lists that every so often put us at no1 place in the uk to live

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