Taxi rank on way after complaints of illegal parking
Taxis parked in Leopold Street – photograph by Telegraph reader
AN OFFICIAL taxi rank is to be created in Leopold Street in Sheffield city centre after complaints that drivers are blocking the road and a bus stop.
Two spaces are to be made available in the evenings directly outside Leopold Square and there will be a 'feeder' rank outside the Fountain pub on Leopold Street.
It follows protests that black cabs are illegally waiting on the other side of the road, making it difficult for pedestrians, especially the elderly, the disabled and people with buggies, to cross the road and for passengers to get on and off buses.
One Telegraph reader said that the whole of the bus stop was blocked one night by a row of five taxis.
Council cabinet member Ian Auckland said the problems were being caused by a minority of drivers.
"Just like other motorists, taxi drivers are not permitted to 'over-rank' on to yellow lines, nor are they permitted to park on the pavement or in bus stops. If any given rank is full, then the vehicle should move and park legally elsewhere.
"In many cases taxis are parking up illegally when our enforcement officers are not at that specific location and moving on when officers appear – rather like a game of cat and mouse. We have raised the issue with our colleagues in licensing and the Taxi Drivers Association."
Now it is hoped a solution has been found with the small taxi rank, which will operate only in the evenings, for the benefit of drivers and their passengers visiting the bars and restaurants in Leopold Square and Orchard Square. The location is just around the corner from the main rank in Barker's Pool.
Taxi Drivers' Association chairman Hafeas Rehman said the association had been working closely with the council to resolve the problems.
