Tight on space at taxi ranks

Taxi drivers in Newark are frustrated at the limited number of parking spaces at ranks in town.

The rank on Castlegate has space for about five vehicles but drivers say they have to compete with the public who can park there at certain times.

Mr Sean Stevens, of The Taxi Cab Co, said the public were prevented from parking there only from 11pm to 3am but many cab drivers started work much earlier, especially at weekends.

Mr Stevens said: “We need the public to be out of the rank by about 5.30pm otherwise we end up blocking the road.

“We can’t help it. We have to go out to work to earn a living but from 6pm to 11pm we have nowhere to go.”

Mr Stevens said taxis had to park along Castlegate and around the bend along Lombard Street, but council street wardens had threatened drivers with parking tickets if they got too close to the bend or obstructed other vehicles.

“There are so many taxis and just not enough space,” he said.

“We understand we need to use our common sense and not park on the corner as lorries and buses need to get by but the council hasn’t done anything to provide extra spaces.

“On a busy night, there can be anything from 20 to 30 taxis waiting for business, queuing all the way up to Blockbuster on Lombard Street.”

The taxi rank at Newark Bus Station closed in August and Newark and Sherwood Council told drivers it was going to make Castlegate a 24-hour rank.

But Mr Stevens, who has been a taxi driver for seven years, said the situation was worse than he had ever known it and didn’t believe the 24-hour rank would make much difference.

“There are about 126 licensed taxis in Newark and Sherwood and only enough parking spaces for around 26,” he said.

Parking is an issue at other ranks, including Kirkgate and Middlegate.

Mr Stevens said he often had to keep driving around to find a space.

He said: “There’s less money around and less jobs. Taxis are a luxury item and so more taxis are surplus in the area.”

A district council spokesman said: “Changes to taxi ranks in Newark town centre have been agreed by the council’s licensing committee. Legal orders are being prepared and agreed with the highways authority so changes can be implemented as soon as possible.”