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Taxi rank move fails to impress residents
From the Gazette & Herald, first published Thursday 2nd Sep 2004.
GAZETTE & HERALD: A compromise plan for a new taxi rank in Chippenham's Station Hill has failed to win over local residents, who fear it will lead to increased disturbance from nightclub revellers.
Wiltshire County Council officers met up with police and North Wiltshire District Council in June to talk about providing extra taxi ranks in the town centre to ease the burden on the Bridge rank late at night.
But local residents protested against plans to create a new night-time only taxi rank outside Buds nightclub, fearing the noise created by people leaving the nightclub would be extended as people waited for taxis to take them home.
In response the county council has suggested shortening the taxi rank so it is not adjacent to 11 Station Hill.
But resident Will Burford said the amendment to the plan had not allayed their concerns.
"We don't want a taxi rank in the road at all," he said.
"Once the taxi rank is established they won't just park outside Buds, they'll still stop outside our home. This isn't good enough.
"The new taxi rank should be outside all the takeaway places at the bottom of New Road instead.
"We've never complained about Buds and the bouncers are very good at getting people to disperse. If we have taxis outside people will be hanging around for much longer."
The county council published its original draft plans on July 30 and subsequently received complaints from residents, businesses and Chippenham Town Council, which raised concerns about the shortage of taxis in Chippenham and a lack of consultation.
Tom Jones, proprietor of TJ Auto Services in Station Hill, was also worried the taxi rank would make it hard for his customers to park the night before their vehicles were booked in for work.
A report about the new proposals will go before North Wiltshire District Council's personnel, licensing and administration committee on September 6 when members are recommended to approve the amended plans.
The revised proposals will go before the county council's regulatory committee on October 6.
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