Taxi Driver Online

Winsford Cross Shopping Centre to impose £250 fee on taxis using car park by the Queen's Arms Wetherspoons, in Dene Drive, as an overflow rank


WINSFORD taxi drivers will be in for a rough ride when a new charge comes into force on June 1.

The owners of Winsford Cross Shopping Centre have decided to charge each Hackney cab a £250 fee for using an overflow rank it owns in Dene Drive.

The car park next to the Queen’s Arms has traditionally been used for free by drivers waiting for space in the main rank, but now they will be left with no choice but to pay the annual fee or go elsewhere.

But one taxi driver, who did not wish to be named, said the charge could be a pressure too far for already struggling drivers.

“We’re not making enough money as it is, we can do a 10-hour shift and still not come out with minimum wage,” he said.

“This is just another tax on us.

“It would be fair enough if it was an airport or somewhere like that where you pick up a good fare, but most of ours rarely go over £3.

“To be hit with a charge to service their customers is ridiculous. This will really hit the independent drivers because that’s where their bread and butter is.”

Taxi companies and private drivers were informed by email from Cheshire West and Chester Council on Friday, which stated that the local authority had nothing to do with the charge.

The letter from licensing enforcement officer, Ray Wilson, said: “I should emphasise that this decision has nothing to do with the council.

“The ‘feeder rank’ is not a formally adopted ‘rank’ because it is on private land and, therefore, this decision is outside the jurisdiction and influence of the council.”

A spokesman for BTW Shields Ltd, acting as the agent for Winsford Cross Developments Ltd, confirmed the move and said it was being introduced in an effort to regulate the site’s use.

He said those who make the payment will be issued with a display badge and the shopping centre will be responsible for enforcing the scheme.

He said: “We have had to do it because there has never been previous permission given in the past.

“We are trying to regulate it and are more than happy to work with the drivers on this.”

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

So they are being asked a fee for waiting for a job, and they will pick up that job on the public road.

Would that shopping centre like the shirts off the driver's backs as well?

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IDFIMH

Maybe if the taxis no longer service the shopping centre then customers will no longer use the shopping centre. Maybe then they will come to their senses.

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Grandad,

SHOPPING CENTRE SHOULD BE GLAD ITS GOT TAXIS AVAILABLE RANT RANT RANT too much of this with buying freephones and station permits rise up and say NO

IF THEY DON'T DO IT SOMEBODY ELSE WILL

I didn't think they could do that if it's a public road, silly me

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

They can't on a public road.
The fee is for the feeder rank which is on private land.

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

Who put a feeder rank on private property, silly them

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

woe betide any hack going shopping in his own motor then...

isnt winsford a high earning area?

the local hacks will have to unite and put pen to paper to the owners

1. we aint paying
2. colectively we are 500+ families (2000 shopper?) who will boycot your shops, we all have relatives who will do the same
3. we are going to the press
4. we may refuse to use the proper rank leaving your shoppers without transport
5. we may consider a rolling road block protest on your busiest days
6. we are contacting every shop to explain our actions and why on our day of action we will not be bringing people into the centre or collecting anybody...

and so on, power to the people...

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

Not a bad idea, if they can get the whole trade to support it.
Trouble is there are always some who will see the chance of a quick buck, at the expense of the others who take part.

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

well the MP is this guy, theres an election on the horizon...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_O%27Brien

who owns the shopping centre?

if the "rank" in question is unofficial it needs removing as a private land owner cannot mark out a HC rank surely?

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

Most stations and airports are private land.

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Grandad,

those we expect to pay licence fees for, but a overspill waiting area? is that worth £250 a year?

someones taking the pish...not that affects me, as scumbag minicabber

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

I actually agree with you
You can be sure that some of them will pay up though.
Fools and their money.........

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

well, like evrything else in life they have a choice

"put up, or shut up"

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most