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Wolverhampton cabbies left angry as taxi rank is removed

A taxi boss has criticised the council for temporarily removing the city's oldest rank without telling drivers.

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Cabbies were left puzzled to find the rank in Market Street was out of bounds earlier this week.

The two-week closure is due to the council's £1.6 million roadworks scheme being carried out in the city centre.

Taxi chief Parminder Sekhon has vented his fury at Wolverhampton City Council for not letting him know about the change.

Mr Sekhon said: "They didn't tell us they were doing it and they haven't given us an alternative.

"Anything this council does doesn't surprise me – they couldn't organise a drink in a pub.

"There's no sign on the rank either so the public don't know where to go.

"It's the oldest rank in the city and an important one for business, but the public cannot get to us or see us when they leave Marks & Spencer."

Council chiefs pointed the finger of blame at contractors and they said that 'logistical reasons' prevented them from providing a temporary rank on Market Street while work is being carried out.

City council spokesman Tim Clark said: "Trade representatives had been informed that at some point the rank on Market Street would need to be temporarily withdrawn to enable improvements.

"The contractors responsible for the day-to-day delivery of the scheme earlier this week commenced work at this location ahead of schedule and unfortunately due to logistical reasons have been unable to provide a dedicated temporary rank on Market Street as originally intended.

"The contractors did not advise us of this until today. We have immediately instructed the contractors to produce prominent signage directing people to use the adjacent Castle Street taxi rank during the day and at night a dedicated temporary facility will be available on the opposite side of Market Street.

"Taxi marshalls, who operate from this area at weekends, have been briefed and the council has committed to put additional marshalls on duty during the two to three weeks the works are due to last.

"We apologise to the public and the taxi trade for any inconvenience this may have caused in the last 24 hours and we have taken swift action to maintain the availability of taxi services in this area whilst this major improvement scheme progresses."

It is the latest spat between drivers and the council.

Last month, strike action was narrowly averted when the local authority agreed to an independent review on possibly capping the number of taxis in the city. The taxi rank is due to reopen later this month.

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