KEETCH CALLS FOR MORE CITY TAXI RANKS

2.00.00pm GMT Mon 7th Feb 2005

Traffic chaos at Tesco

Hereford's MP, Paul Keetch is calling on Conservative controlled Herefordshire Council to provide more taxi ranks in Hereford. His call comes after continuing problems at Tesco in the city where the police have to move on taxis waiting to get on the rank there. Mr Keetch visited the rank on Friday and spoke to taxi drivers and the local beat officer.

"This really is a crazy situation," said Mr Keetch. "Since deregulation there are over 500 taxis in the county, many of them operating in the city. But in the city there are only a couple of dozen rank spaces. As a result the most popular rank at Tesco is clogged with taxis and potential passengers causing the police to intervene to keep traffic running.

"It is a waste of valuable police time and causes friction between the police, the taxi drivers and their passengers.

"The council must take this seriously and provide more rank spaces. St Peter's Square is an obvious place along with more in Broad Street."

Paul Keetch has written to the Council asking if there any plans to provide additional rank spaces.