Taxi Driver Online

Clacton Gazette!

Clacton: Cabs allowed back in town centre
10:00am Monday 6th October 2008



COASTAL cabbies are celebrating victory in their battle to be allowed to pick up customers from a town centre.

Tendring Taxi Drivers’ Association had previously threatened to blockade Clacton after being barred from using central Pier Avenue.

Essex County Council banned cabs from the road between 10am and 4pm, as part of the town centre improvement project.

Tendring district councillors Joy Broderick, Chris Griffiths, Stephen Mayzes, and Paul and Sue Honeywood launched a campaign calling on highways bosses to reverse the decision.

Following a meeting with the drivers’ association, Norman Hume, the county council’s cabinet member for highways, announced that taxis will be allowed to use Pier Avenue for a trial period.

Cabbie John Brigden, a former chairman of the association, said: “I think it is absolutely fantastic and good to see the county council are trying to help us.

“We’ll now be able to pick our customers up and drop them off in Pier Avenue, which is especially important for our elderly customers and those who are disabled."

Mr Brigden said it could take up to seven months before the restrictions are lifted.

Mr Hume said: “I have made this decision on the basis that it will be helpful to the public generally and be of particular benefit to the elderly or those with mobility problems".

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin