Taxi drivers park illegally in protest over city centre rank changes
The rank was either side of Lichfield Street, in Hanley, but council bosses have withdrawn it on one side of the road
Jack Furness
Dozens of cabbies parked their cars illegally in the city centre in protest at their taxi rank being removed.
Hackney carriage drivers were moved to a temporary rank in Lichfield Street,Hanley, while Stafford Street is being developed.
But they were informed earlier this week they could no longer park on the right-hand side of Lichfield Street.
This prompted 35 drivers to descend on Hanley Town Hall on Monday to demand answers from Stoke-on-Trent City Council. And they parked their cars at the former rank as they went in to complain.
Taxi drivers parked their vehicles on their former rank when they went to Hanley Town Hall to complain
The council has now agreed to introduce temporary arrangements, including a waiting area in Lichfield Street if the rank on the left-hand side is full. Part of Stafford Street, currently used at night, will also be available to taxi drivers in the day.
Waqas Nawaz, Stoke-on-Trent chairman of the Hackney Carriage Association, said cabbies felt strongly about the issue as it affected their livelihoods.
The 35-year-old, from Hanley, said: "There are almost 350 taxi drivers. Some of them are working at the train station who have that permit, some of them are working in private hire, and some of them are working on the taxi rank in the city centre.
"We all need to feed our kids and we all need to pay our mortgages and council tax. Do they want us to rob a bank or something? We have to work and we can only make money on the taxi rank.
"The council want more taxi drivers. A plate for a driver costs £242 each year for a driver. The MOT costs £60 and renewing of your badge costs over £270 each year and they are not providing us with ranks.
"They are issuing more plates and they don't have the space."
Waqas Nawaz (centre) and Jamil Ahmed (far left) were among the 35 drivers who went to Hanley Town Hall to ask why the rank has been removed
Hackney carriage driver Jamil Ahmed, said 'at least' 15 spaces had gone.
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The 42-year-old, from Hanley, said: "Stafford Street is being done up. On Town Road, there was a minimum of 14 spaces we had taken off us some time back.
"It wouldn't be a problem if we were given somewhere else. They have to provide space for us.
"We know Stafford Street being developed is helping the city. We can sacrifice this time and go to Lichfield Street, but now they have done this."
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A city council spokesman said the changes had been prompted by plans for the Winter Wonderland attraction in the run-up to Christmas. It has meant 'displacing' the disabled parking bays in Birch Terrace car park and moving them to Lichfield Street.
But he added: "We have been working with taxi drivers affected by this move and are pleased to say we have been able to incorporate their suggestions in alternative taxi provision as a temporary measure.
"When the multi-million public realm work in Stafford Street is completed, the taxi rank will locate fully there."
The temporary steps are still being finalised.