Row over proposal to move cab ranks

The cabbies claim the decision to move the ranks in Hill Street and Grange Road, will make them less visible to potential passengers and could mean a drop in fares.

They have lodged a complaint against the authority for failing to consult them properly over the issue.

Joe Durkin, secretary of Middlesbrough Hackney Carriage Association, said: "The way we have been treated is disgraceful - they've ridden roughshod over us. They never really had a lot of consultation and then we just saw a public notice saying they were going to do it.

"We initially objected to them moving the rank on Hill Street as we feel the new location could be dangerous. There are quite a number of safety factors and somebody is going to get hurt there.

"Also, the original rank was visible from the east side of the town and much more visible than where they are going to put it."

The other stand, in Grange Road, has been there for years, but councillors plan to move it further down the street to a disused play area.

"That is going to mean parking taxis right in front of people's houses," said Mr Durkin.

"It's a disgrace because they are actually putting us behind a building where we can't be seen."

The authority says the new rank replacing the one in Hill Street will provide an increased number of spaces for cabs, improved visibility and a lay-by to remove taxis from the traffic flow.

The Grange Road move will provide six extra spaces and the council has promised to install additional signs to raise the profile of the rank.

A Middlesbrough Council spokesman said taxi drivers were consulted about the plans.

"We first met with the taxi people in January 2001 and in the next 15 months there were several meetings between our engineers and them.

"At the end of the day agreement could not be reached so we said 'this is the plan'."

The matter will be discussed by the authority's complaints and appeals committee on August 29.