Taxi drivers petition to move to bigger rank

Major Gill from Unite in Coventry handed the petition to the council on Thursday and said he wants to see something done about the taxi rank.

Taxi drivers in Coventry have handed a petition to the city council calling for a taxi rank to be moved in the city centre.

More than 1600 people signed the petition calling for the four space rank on Cross Cheaping to be moved to nearby Palmer Lane, increasing it to nine spaces.

Coventry City Council said that following formal submission of the petition, it will be considered through the usual process, and that it will continue to work with Taxi Forum representatives.

It also confirmed a review of the wider night-time economy as part of its Purple Flag bid, and said taxi provision may be looked at too.

Major Gill from Unite in Coventry handed the petition to the council on Thursday and said he wants to see something done about the taxi rank.

''Four [spaces] is not enough, four [taxis] at the same time can go, but citizens see a taxi and then know they're gonna get home... I don't want them waiting around."

Construction work has recently started on the new City Centre South project which has seen a rank on Rover Road close, meaning fewer spaces for drivers.

A Coventry City Council spokesperson said: "There are no plans to change the existing taxi rank at Cross Cheaping, which accommodates four taxis. This capacity will not be reduced as part of the current works, and the team has ensured the facilities remain in place.

"We are aware of the petition and have already discussed this issue with the Coventry Taxi Forum over the past year.

"The deculverting of the River Sherbourne does not affect the rank, which remains a four-space facility. Any requests to increase capacity will be given consideration, although options are limited, as has been discussed with the trade.

"The council is also reviewing the wider night-time economy as part of its Purple Flag bid, and taxi provision may be looked at as part of that."