Bus operators are backing moves by Ledbury Town Council to get rid of the two taxi ranks in High Street and create one extended bus stop instead.

David Morris, of DRM Coaches, which runs the town service, said: "I'm very much in favour of this. "We have low-floor buses using the War Memorial stop and the bus for the Hereford service cost £100,000. But what is the use if you can't get to the stop to load passengers with buggies and wheelchairs?"

The new low, step-less buses are designed for easy boarding but the advantage is lost if the vehicles cannot draw up to the kerb.

Town councillors are concerned at the potential hazards caused by double parking, which buses are often forced to do at the War Memorial stop.

Mr Morris, who said he had been talking to Herefordshire Council as a spokesmen for the other bus operators, said the problem was caused by private cars parking not just in the taxi ranks near the bus stop but actually at the bus stop itself.

A similar point was made by Martin Perry, of the Bromyard Omnibus Company, in a letter to the Ledbury Reporter last week.

Mr Morris said that with the proposed extension of High Street bus bays, Herefordshire Council's wardens should be on the look out for any driver parking there illegally.

Subject to full council approval on April 4, the town council looks set to ask Herefordshire Council to remove the faded taxi rank markings once and for all.

The feeling is that the space allotted for bus parking just isn't large enough.

Coun Keith Francis said: "The other Friday, four buses were trying to get in to park and they had to double park."

Coun Peter Watts said of the taxi ranks: "Private cars are parking there at present and buses can't get in. It's a simple as that."

The ranks seem unlikely to be missed by the taxi drivers themselves.

Lorna Fletcher, of Ledbury's Venture Taxi Service, said: "I've never seen any taxi sitting there. We ourselves are private hire, and take our bookings over the phone."