Drivers hit back over taxi rank allegations (From Warrington Guardian)

Drivers hit back over taxi rank allegations

TAXI drivers in Winsford have hit back at suggestions that they are to blame for a dangerous pick up point and are now calling for action.

The comments have been made following a report in last week's Guardian highlighting what councillors believe to be a hazardous taxi rank outside the shopping centre on Dene Drive.

Sue Hitchen, member of the Vale Royal Taxi Association and employee at First Choice Cars, said: "I'm incensed that people think we are to blame.

"Uppermost in all our minds is safety and it is scary for us drivers when someone steps out in front of you.

"We have fought for more taxi spaces and a zebra crossing but it hasn't happened.

"It is not our fault if people are too lazy to walk 50 yards to the pedestrian crossing."

Last week's report contained comments from Winsford town councillors Peter Gannon and Des Worthington who believe the taxi rank is an 'accident waiting to happen' because taxis are parking on double yellow lines and mounting the footpath.

Ian Jennings, a self employed taxi driver, said: "I can see the councillor Gannon's point but how can he say it's an accident waiting to happen when there is a perfectly safe pedestrian crossing nearby?"

Sue said: "There aren't enough spaces and we realise that.

"The problem is that the public are parking where they shouldn't do because they are nipping to get a paper or something from the shop."

Sue is now calling on Modus, the company responsible for the shopping centre, to make improvements.

She said: "We had various meetings about 18 months ago when Modus first took over and asked for more taxi spaces on the Civic Hall car park, but they refused."

"If Clr Gannon wants to help us to sort this situation out then we would appreciate it."

Clr Gannon said: "I'm not going to fight to get extra taxi spaces on the civic hall car park because I don't see that as an option but I would be more than willing to talk to Mrs Hitchen about this."

Modus were unavailable for comment.

phennessey@guardiangrp.co.uk