TAXI drivers have been giving their reactions to plans which could see the number of ranks reduced in the city.
Under proposals being mooted by Exeter City Council, the size of some ranks could be reduced while busy areas could be extended.
A report into the matter is to be considered at a meeting of the authority's licensing committee next week.
In the review the committee will be told there are 66 taxi stands currently used and the busiest are at Central Station and in Sidwell Street, outside the old Debenhams store.
Ranks which could close include North Street, the top end of South Street and Mary Arches.
The review was carried out to assess the demand for ranks and cabs.
It was conducted by Mouchel Ltd on behalf of the city council and their representatives will attend the committee meeting.
The survey also includes provision in cabs for wheelchair passengers and whether it is being met fully.
"Some of the current hackney carriage ranks are very well used and hackney carriages should use other ranks to avoid congestion and obstruction of other road users, or those ranks should be enlarged," the survey reports.
"It also identified a number of ranks were rarely, if ever, used and consideration should be given to revoking those allowing the areas to be used for other purposes."
It points to the lack of wheelchair-accessible cabs and believes marketing of taxis could be improved with the introduction of fares posted at ranks and public buildings like the city library and tourist spots.
Syed Alam, 46, who has been driving in the city for 12 years said making more spaces available would increase business.
"There are ranks which are never used and nor do the public know they are there," he said. "Taxi drivers are going through a difficult time and we need all the business we can get."
Fellow cabby Ali Tameem, said: "I think any extension of the busy ranks will be good for us. But I hope they don't carry out too many closures, though some in the city like North Street are hardly used."
Others cab operators said they were afraid more ranks could fall victim to closure and should be retained at any price.
There are more than 360 private hire operators who are not allowed to use ranks because they do not have hackney carriage licences.
Steve Screech, spokesman for Gemini Taxis said it was doubtful whether more business would be generated if ranks were enlarged: "Exeter is well covered with cabs. Private hire set a lower fares scale to hackney carriages."
source:
http://www.thisisexeter.co.uk/news/
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