MEASURES to restrict taxis from parking in Brighouse have been welcomed by traders and shoppers.
A new traffic order which will ban private hire and hackney carriage vehicles taking up free spaces in the town centre will be implemented and the signs put up by the end of May.
Private hire and hackney carriage cabs will be restricted from parking in designated areas of the town between 8am and 6pm Monday to Saturday.
The order covers Bethel Street, Bradford Road, Briggate, Commercial Street, Gooder Street, King Street, Lawson Road, Market Street and Park Street.
But Mohammed Iqbal, owner of Wood’s Taxis, said he would continue to fight the order.
“I have made an appointment with my solicitor and I am going to take the council to court. There is no law in the UK how can they have a law in Brighouse and not everywhere else in the district,” he said.
The new traffic regulation which was approved by Calderdale Council in December following a large number of complaints, only received one objection.
Coun Stout (Ind, Brighouse) said the signs would be up by the end of May which would restrict where the taxis parked.
“That means that if they are picking up a passenger they can park and pick them up but they can’t park,” said Coun Stout. “I will be requesting that the traffic wardens spend a lot more time in Brighouse, first of all to enforce the new regulation and secondly to make it clear that we mean business as far as illegal parking, whether it be taxis or not.”
He said he would be looking into providing more hackney carriage spaces to accommodate the six vehicles.
Gail Subham, chairman of Shopwatch, said: “It really is difficult trying to get parked up because the taxis are there. You cannot get parked on market street because taxis are parked in every single place.
“If people could park up on the streets I think it would really benefit Brighouse because it really does annoy a lot of people.”
Stuart Buckle, who owns Willows in Market Street, said he was happy the order had been passed and Eileen Vernon of Eileen’s also in Market Street said she was pleased the council was stopping them from parking in the town.
She said: “Brighouse taxis have been extremely good over recent weeks and haven’t been parking here.”
John Gilroy from Fawcett’s thought the order was a positive move and people were finding it easier to park now.
Owner of Brief Encounter, Sue Bellamy, said it would have a beneficial impact, adding: “People cannot actually stop and park in the town, if they are only coming in for a couple of items it puts people off. I have a lot of people that complain to me that they cannot park.”
Gordan Hayes, who has recently taken over at Le Gormat in Bethel Street, said he was hoping it would help his business. “You only have to look down the street and it is just full of taxis,” he said. “I am sure it will make a difference.”
Shoppers were also pleased with the news of the order. Olive and Tony Filiby of Rastrick said it was a good idea to ban them.
And Pamela Harding who works in the town said: “If they start a taxi rank they should make sure they have parking. You do get the odd customer that has been driving round trying to park.”
David Stokes said: “The taxis do take up a lot of spaces. I just hope the council sticks to it and keeps it up.”
source:
http://www.brighouseecho.co.uk/news/
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