Town gets 'feeder' taxi rank (From Watford Observer)

Town gets 'feeder' taxi rank

12:57pm Thursday 5th June 2008 in News

A new "feeder" taxi rank will be set up in The Avenue car park to help whisk thousands drinkers out of the town centre on busy evenings.

Watford Borough Council this week said taxis will now be able to queue in the car park and wait until there is a space on the Rickmansworth Road rank.

Marshalls controlling the rank, at the top of The Parade, will then radio through when there is space for another cab to join the queue.

The idea is to try and prevent taxi drivers from backing up onto the town hall roundabout where the council says they have become a danger.

The feeder rank will operate from 11pm to 3.30am on Monday, Friday and Saturday nights during a trial period.

The move is the latest idea from Watford Borough Council to try and appease frustrated taxi drivers who say they have nowhere to stop in the town centre.

Taxi drivers have long complained that the rank on Rickmansworth Road is too small.

The rank can only accommodate eight cars, meaning taxis seeking a fare often have to queue onto the town hall roundabout and into Beechen Grove.

Hackney Cab drivers say as they queue they have been given penalty points and could have their licence put at risk.

The council has investigated extending the rank, however, quickly ruled out the possibility because of the cost.

An unsuccessful trial to turn the bottom of Gade car park has also been run.

However, Councillor Keith Crout, chair of the council's licensing committee, said: " I am particularly pleased because this idea was put forward by the taxi trade itself."