Cabbies demand new rank in town

Taxi drivers are demanding better pick up and drop off facilities across Walsall town centre, including a new rank near the Town Wharf.

They have banded together to call for improvements claiming some bays need to remarked because passengers and drivers are unsure they exist.

The call coincides with plans to increase hackney carriage fares by 30 per cent at night-times hitting revellers deeper in the pocket.

A total of 82 drivers have added their names in support of better taxi facilities in the town centre and raising charges on an evening between 10pm and 6am.

In a letter to taxi licensing chiefs they say: "A number of drivers have expressed their desire to have a new taxi rank around the area of the Town Wharf which is a very good idea as that area is being developed and certainly requires a taxi rank for the shoppers and commuters' from that area, and will also ease congestion around the town centre.

"We have noticed that the taxi ranks outside KFC in Bridge Street and opposite the Jet petrol station Ablewell Street have not been re-marked as taxi ranks and the roadworks were carried out last year.

A night rise would see an immediate increase of 75p.