TAXI drivers have turned to Facebook in a bid to draw in more support for their campaign to reopen a 24-hour rank in the centre of York.

They have set up a page on the social networking site, calling for people to back their demands for the facility in Duncombe Place to be brought back into round-the-clock operation.

It follows a setback last month, when City of York Council’s city strategy panel chose to turn down appeals from York Taxi Association (YTA) to return the rank to 24-hour use.

Instead the panel opted to launch a study into potential alternative city centre sites for hackney carriages to pick up passengers.

Now, as well as carrying petition forms asking passengers to support their view on Duncombe Place – which they say is “the safest rank in York” – the organisation is also looking to put more pressure on the authority to rethink its decision through its Facebook page.

The page was set up by YTA committee member Richard Jackson, and now has more than 220 members.

The rank is currently allowed to open between 7.30am and 10pm, but its times were cut two years ago following complaints about late-night noise and disturbance from people living nearby and the adjacent Dean Court Hotel.

“It’s another string to our bow on this issue and adds to the petition we are also organising and which will be submitted to the council in due course,” said YTA secretary Graham Phillips.

“Our appeal has had a good start and has been well supported, so we feel there is a groundswell of opinion on this.

“It shows this matter is not going to go away and we will be speaking to the council about it further at a meeting later this month.

“We still feel Duncombe Place is needed as a 24-hour rank because of the safety it offers away from the busiest part of the city centre, which can be a flashpoint area and lead to concerns for both passengers and our drivers.”

But Coun Steve Galloway, the council’s city strategy chief, has said there will be no U-turn on the Duncombe Place issue.

“The council has made its decision,” he said.

“A review of alternative late-night ranks is taking place and we will look at the option which officers put forward in a few months time.

“There is an alternative late-night rank available for former Duncombe Place customers scarcely 100m away.”

Possible options may include reinstating a rank in St Sampson’s Square or opening a new facility in Lendal, and the council has said it will take taxi drivers’ views into account when making its decision.