Taxi Driver Online

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.

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Perhaps if they removed all but one bus stop from the city centre as well they'd be halfway to recognising the problem wouldn't they.

There must be loads of them about at night then

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Life? Don't talk to me about life!
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If a taxi can't get a rank space cos they are all full where can they legally park up?

I ask this because I seem to think that taxis can only ply for hire from a rank or be flagged down. I of course could be wrong and if I am I'm sure you'll let me know but please be gentle it's been a tw*t of a night

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

If this was a concert promoter selling 200 tickets for a gig venue that only holds 40 ppl there would be hell to pay.

My understanding of it all is that it's not the licensing office doing it, but the city engineers dept, who just do everything without consultation, hence why there's always a traffic jam as they implement their latest hairbrained road improvement schemes.