Agenda item

To consider objections received to the proposals to site an additional and an alternative taxi rank on Evesham Road, Headless Cross.

(Report attached)

Members were asked to consider a report that outlined objections to proposals to site additional and alternative taxi ranks on Evesham Road, Headless Cross.

The Licensing Manager reported that further to Minute 25 of the meeting of this Committee held on 25th January 2010, the approved proposals had been publicised as required by the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976.  These proposals included the provision of an additional Hackney Carriage rank for 6/7 spaces outside Steps Bistro and the re-siting of the current provision of 3 spaces situated outside the White Hart on the pavement; to the roadside opposite the White Hart public house.

Councillor Gandy, in her role as a Ward Councillor for Headless Cross and Oakenshaw, reported that she had withdrawn her support for the proposals for the following reasons:

1)                 the proposals would only increase the number of taxi ranks by 6 bays.  However there could be 30 – 40 taxis in the area on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights either parked in exactly the same places as at present or cruising up and down the road waiting for a taxi rank space to become available.

2)                 the big parking problems in the area are at the Dog and Pheasant, which has no parking and the Council’s sheltered housing scheme at Headley Court, which provides parking for residents’ only and is over subscribed.  Residential properties fronting onto that part of Evesham Road do not have garages or drives and have no opportunities for off-street parking.  She highlighted that parking is an issue for a number of shops and, in particular, the hairdressers.

Councillor Gandy withdrew from the meeting at this point because of her prior involvement as a Ward Councillor.

Members were informed that the response of Worcestershire County Council, as Highways Authority, following further consultation had been as follows:

“The intention of the proposal from a traffic management/road safety perspective is to remove the inappropriate taxi rank from the footway, which is deemed a safety hazard.  The loss of this facility would be offset by the utilisation of the bus stop clearway areas for taxis during the evening and also the additional provision of taxi facilities outside Steps public house.  There will actually be a net increase in taxi ranks spaces available, which will help to formalise taxi parking and therefore minimise indiscriminate parking which currently takes place.  Regardless of these proposals going forward, we are obliged to remove the unofficial marking from the pavement area, and we would encourage Redditch Borough Council to remove any formal Hackney Carriage Stand Order that may exist. We wouldn’t support the general principle of a lay-by when facilities can be accommodated within existing highway arrangements as proposed.  I would also say that a lay-by at this location would leave a substandard footway width and interfere with visibility from the pub accesses”.

Redditch Taxi Association had responded to the consultation stating that:

“they feel the implementation of these new and revised ranks would improve the congestion problems and that noise and anti social behaviour problems would increase if no rank provision in that area was provided.”

The Chair tabled a letter dated 2nd June 2010 from PC S Worley (784), the Beat Officer for Headless Cross and Oakenshaw, which withdrew Police support for the proposed changes based on resident’s objections and the inability to enforce any changes. The Licensing Manager reported that she had not been informed by the Police prior to the meeting that they intended to withdraw their support for the proposals.

Members were informed that other objections had been received as follows:

RESOLVED that

1.                  that a decision on the proposals be deferred pending a late night site visit on 18th or 25th June 2010;

2.                  that Officers investigate the possible utilisation of local business parking at night for taxis; and

3.                  that Officers clarify Police information regarding the proposals and invite a representative to attend the meeting on 19th July 2010.