Bad news for city taxi passengers
Customers using taxis from Inverness city centre will have to stump up more cash if the busy Castle Wynd stance is closed and replaced with one in the Eastgate.
In documents to be considered by councillors on the Highland Council’s City Committee today, when the controversial closure will be debated, it is conceded by the council that extra cost from the Eastgate rank could be faced by passengers.
It has emerged also that the Inverness Taxi Alliance protest petition with more than 3000 signatures from the public, will not be officially considered at today’s meeting, although it will be referred to during discussion on the report covering the objections formally lodged to the proposed Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) under which taxi ranks will be allocated.
A council spokeswoman said: "The petition itself will not be considered as the issues to which it refers are fully covered by the report to committee and the public had a right to lodge formal objection to the TRO."
Highland Council proposes replacing the Castle Wynd stance with a six car stance on Bridge Street facing west, and a large rank on Eastgate pedestrian precinct that will open after 7pm
Officials are recommending the committee re-designates Castle Wynd with no waiting or loading at any time, provide a night time taxi rank in Eastgate, and keep a 24 hour rank westbound on Bridge Street which will extend into the loading bay after 6pm.
Many taxi drivers fear the passengers wanting to head to the west side of the city will face increased fares because the exit from Eastgate is recommended to be left (after 7pm) out of Hamilton Street then along Academy Street.
Shane Manning the councils principal traffic and parking officer said in a reply to cabbie David Coutts said: "We acknowledge that there may be increased costs incurred by using this rank."
But in a later reply to another driver regarding increased fares Mr Manning said: "The matter of potential increased fares is not a direct issue we can consider when locating ranks."
He also revealed that High Street, with its automatic bollard barriers, may come into use as a taxi route.
He said in a letter to a driver: "Taxis...though not ideal, will not be preventing from exiting from the High Street onto Bridge Street."
Council officers point out that there is no legal taxi rank on Castle Wynd, this location is not designated in any TRO but has been "adopted" by taxi drivers through custom and practice. This has been challenged by the cabbies, and in the past the council erected a "Taxi" sign on a lampost there, and painted "Taxi" on the street.
The council report states: "Though seen as beneficial to taxi drivers Castle Wynd does cause issues of congestion during the day with drivers waiting to turn right into Castle Wynd and coming out of Castle Wynd.
"Taxis waiting in Castle Wynd during the day can cause issues with vehicles requiring access to premises within the museum complex.
"In evenings excessive vehicles snaking on the incline to use the rank completely block the access to these premises. Highland Council is investing considerable sums to develop the castle and its approaches to further encourage and service visitors to Inverness.
"This major investment will include a complete facelift and repurposing of Castle Wynd to the greater benefit of the city."
Academy Street ranks remain.
