Taxi Driver Online

Not much evidence of rooflights (or even plates etc) in the photos, so the 'taxis' are presumably you-know-what


Southend Airport taxis nuisance parking on residential roads

https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/266484 ... ial-roads/

Taxi drivers idling their engines on streets near Southend Airport has sparked calls for a crackdown, including extra patrols, more tickets and a designated waiting area.

Out-of-town cab drivers have reportedly parking on residential roads in the absence of a designated waiting area, with the only option being the express drop-off which risks a £100 fine if the ten-minute limit is exceeded.

Residents and businesses have said they are being disrupted by taxi drivers parking up with their engines on and blocking spaces meant for locals and customers.

Southend Council leader Daniel Cowan said he has been told about drivers from outside the city ignoring double-yellow lines and parking on grass verges, and said more patrols and tickets, as well as an additional waiting area, were being considered.

Southend Airport said it was "monitoring and refining" recently-introduced parking changes and committed to investigating improvements.

Adam Beeney runs Physically Fit Sports Therapy on Eastwoodbury Crescent, and said he has been battling with the "nuisance" parking for the past few months.

"There are bays out in the road and sometimes there are six to eight taxis there," he said. "I have got customers that can't park."

He said drivers rush off to avoid parking inspectors - who he said he doesn't see enough of - but return up to four of five times.

Mr Cowan said the "inconsiderate" actions by drivers coming from outside Southend are "unfair on residents and businesses.

"I understand that those drivers are trying to earn a living," he said.

"Those who operate responsibly, respect our communities and follow the rules have nothing to worry about.

"But our residents deserve peace and quiet, and our local businesses deserve for their customers to actually be able to park outside their shops."

He said enforcement will include patrols and the issuing of Regulation 10 tickets, which can be issued if a person drives away before a regular fine is given, alongside a potential new waiting area.

Mr Cowan said: "We are looking at all options within the immediate area, as far away from residential properties as reasonably practicable."

A Southend Airport spokesperson said: "The introduction of new car parking products at London Southend Airport earlier this summer has gone well, with many of our customers finding the new car parks efficient and easy to use.

"As with all large-scale projects like our recent car parking changes, we're in a post-implementation phase where we are monitoring and refining all of the observed outcomes, including those which have impacted on some taxi operators.

"We have committed to investigating improvements to some of the issues raised after the post-implementation phase."








Images: Adam Beeney/Southend Echo

The airport's website does seem to confirm that there's no graded charging system if the 10 minute limit is exceeded. But can't find anything about a £100 fine. Certainly well over the top for this kind of thing, though - I could imagine a shedload of disputes if people just over by a couple of minutes


Car parking products - oh, my sides

Usual spin and PR effectively admitting there are teething problems, but we don't like to admit to that directly

And it was Southend Airport recently where the small firm proprietor had amassed £1,600 in 'fines' by not paying the drop charges by the specified time

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=42941

Very few flights go to or from Southend so maybe this is a new strategy to make money but if it was bad enough before living on the approach road it must be a nightmare now.

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

It's got to be one of the quietest airports in the UK, so I very much doubt drivers are flocking there for work.

Maybe there is a busy supermarket nearby.

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IDFIMH