Cab drivers say they are losing business after their taxi rank was moved to an “unsafe” remote location.

Customers now have to walk down an alleyway behind the Roosters Piri takeaway, in Watford High Street, to reach the Wellstones Taxi Rank.

Shafiq Ahmed, chairman of Watford Hackney Carriage Drivers Association is concerned that people will be reluctant to walk down the dark passage late at night despite CCTV being installed.

He said: “Since this Wellstones Rank was introduced our business has declined sharply. We have been placed us in a remote area where the public is reluctant to go during the day let alone in the evening.

“The last two months has seen our work disappear and most of the weekend work has reduced also due to this unsociable and grotesque location.

“Many customers are complaining they will not use this area as it is not safe regardless of the CCTV cameras.”

The council’s deputy managing director Nick Fenwick said the taxi rank has been moved due to improvement work taking place in the high street until September.

He said: “The huge improvements to the high street will benefit the whole community by creating a more attractive, less polluted, pedestrian and cycle friendly town centre.

“To help achieve this we have moved what was a part time taxi rank on the High Street to a full time rank at Wellstones, which is just seconds from the High Street itself. We have invested money in this new rank to help make it a success, including putting in lighting, CCTV, a shelter for people waiting and a help point.

“On top of this we have ensured there is very visible signage to taxis on the high street. But we have received disappointing reports from the public saying that they have tried to use the new rank only to find no taxis there.

“In addition we have extended the existing taxi rank at Church Street and there are also other taxi ranks in the town centre. The Wellstones rank can only establish itself if the drivers make use of it.”