Parking crackdown angers taxi drivers (From Hereford Times)

Parking crackdown angers taxi drivers

8:00am Saturday 4th July 2009

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POLICE and Herefordshire Council have cracked down on parking near Hereford’s Tesco in Bewell Street.

The council says drivers must not park illegally beause of pedestrian safety concerns and emergency vehicle access.

But taxi drivers say they are losing money and being inconvenienced.

“The council is saying taxis cannot park or load in Bewell Street but we’ve been doing this for years.

They say we have to load at the taxi rank at the end,”

said driver Ron Morgan.

“There is a rank there for six cars and they are saying if the rank is full we have to drive on.”

Tesco customer Sheila Stanley also called the Hereford Times with concerns.

“Not everyone has a car and, when you have six or eight bags of shopping, you need a taxi to pick you up where you want to be picked up,” she said.

John Jones, chair of the Herefordshire Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Association (HHCPHA), said strict enforcement would cut earnings.

“Some day drivers rely more or less solely on Tesco and they will be hit very heavily,” he said.

Shane Hancock, acting regulatory services manager at Herefordshire Council, said there were concerns about emergency vehicles having access impeded and pedestrian safety was an issue. He urged drivers to abide by restrictions.

“Persistent breaches will ultimately result in enforcement action being taken where appropriate,” he said.

■ The issue will be discussed by the HHCPHA at the Herdsman in Hereford on Tuesday at 7.30pm

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