Cabbies facing ban? £5,000 scheme could stop taxis parking in town
http://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/news/Ca ... 5815791.jp
TAXI drivers could be banned from parking in a town centre if a new £5,000 scheme is agreed.
The proposed ban will prevent any private hire or hackney carriage cabs from parking in free spaces across Brighouse between 9am and 6pm.
It is being presented by all three of the area's councillors to Calderdale Cabinet next week and if successful, could be introduced across Calderdale.
Colin Stout (Ind, Brighouse) said: "This is a problem that has been getting worse for years now.
"We are getting taxis from Calderdale, Kirklees and Bradford all parking here waiting for business during the day.
"It is getting ridiculous, I've seen about 40 at a time alone.
"It means shoppers are not able to park in the town and it is having a real effect on our economy.
"We appreciate taxi drivers need to earn a living but something has to change.
"If this works here we could bring it in across Calderdale."
The ban would apply to around 100 free parking spaces on Bethel Street, Market Street, Commercial Street and around the town's bus station.
It is being strongly opposed by local taxi firms who say they are being punished for Calderdale Council's mistakes in allowing to many operators to set up in the town.
Mohammed Iqbal, the owner of Wood's Taxis, based on Market Street, said: "We are really going to suffer if this is agreed.
"I have been here for 25 years and the problem only started when the council started granting licenses to anybody that asked.
"We now have five operators in Brighouse, four based in the town centre. We are being made to suffer for their mistakes."
The scheme will be presented to cabinet on November 16.
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