Taxi Driver Online

Leyland Guardian

August 16, 2006

HEADLINE: We are doing nothing wrong

A LEYLAND taxi firm has been criticised for the way it parks its vehicles.

Avacab has come under fire after being photographed parked on the pavements around its garage on Talbot Road in Leyland.

Councillor Bob Leeming is so concerned about the matter he raised it at a meeting of Leyland East Area Committee. His biggest concern is that it's forcing pedestrians into the road. Coun Leeming said: "I understand the problem that Avacab have due to the amount of minibuses they use. But it is something that has come to my attention that trainees coming to and from Eric Wright Construction, for example, have to walk in the road. It is a concern because the road is on a bend and any industrial traffic coming too fast could be dangerous.

"Up until six or eight months ago, Avacab could park elsewhere including at their headquarters in Hough Lane. "Now it seems they are just stored here and not actually being worked on in the garage. "There is a minimum of three or four but usually around six or seven parked all day, not in use." He says after raising his complaint the firm has restricted parking its vehicles to one side of the road.

"I don't know why they can't do that all the time," he said.

Paul Tattersall, managing director of Avacab, told the Guardian: "I'm just trying to run a business. "There can't have been many complaints because it is an industrial area and also, I tell my drivers to park only on one side." Mr Tattersall said: "I keep as many of our vehicles off the road and in the garage as possible, especially at night. When the schools are off we have less contracts so there will be an increase in parked mini-buses.

"However, it isn't Avacab that is causing the problem, it's other vehicles that double park opposite our taxis." Mr Tattersall added: "There are no double yellow lines so we are doing nothing wrong."
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