Report calls for return of city cab rank
7:03pm Wednesday 14th May 2008
THE taxi rank at St Sampson's Square in York should be reinstated, according to a report due to go before city leaders next week.
Members of City of York Council are being asked to increase by 15 the number of licensed hackney cabs in York, after an independent study found there was "significant unmet demand".
Consultants Halcrow have conducted a major review of York's taxi services, interviewing hundreds of drivers, passengers and other concerned parties.
They say the number of hackney carriages should be increased, and say there is strong support for reinstating the rank at St Sampson's Square, which was removed in the 1990s.
The study also found that nearly three-quarters of hackney drivers felt there was a shortage of rank space.
But most also felt there were already enough vehicles.
The council's licensing and regulatory committee will consider the report on May 21.
A council spokeswoman said: "The study, which included taxi rank surveys, customers, focus groups and questionnaires, also found that wheelchair passengers often had particular difficulty in obtaining a taxi and recommends providing additional ranking space.
"If the council agrees to the additional vehicles, all will have to be fully wheelchair accessible, meet the most up-to-date emission standards and have the new black livery."