Taxi rank to return to St Sampson’s Square in York (From York Press)

Taxi rank to return to St Sampson’s Square in York

10:18am Saturday 26th December 2009 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(3)

A TAXI rank is set to be re-opened in St Sampson’s Square, more than two decades after being scrapped by York council chiefs.

Licensing boss John Lacy says the proposed rank would provide spaces for nine vehicles and operate on two sides of the square – alongside Brown’s department store and along the side of Davygate – from 8pm until 6am.

He said the proposal had been drawn up partly in response to demands by taxi drivers for an extra rank, following the creation of 15 extra taxi plates in the city a couple of years ago and the late-night closure of a rank in Duncombe Place.

City of York Council had examined several other possible locations for a new rank, including Library Square and Lendal, before deciding on St Sampson’s Square. He said the old rank, which operated for 24 hours a day, had been scrapped in 1987 because of the pedestrianisation of the city centre and concerns over disorder in the area. But he said the new rank would only operate outside pedestrian hours and great advances had been made in tackling late night disorder.

However, North Yorkshire Police would be invited to give their opinion on the proposal, along with members of the public, and they had 28 days to make representations, with a consultation closing date of January 21.

Coun Steve Galloway, executive member for city strategy, said there was demand for more taxi ranks in the city centre in the evening. He said: “With the closure of the Duncombe Place rank after 10pm each evening, it is important that any replacement ranks are located away from residential properties to avoid any possible noise nuisance problems.

“These days, the St Sampson’s area is covered by CCTV, providing a high level of security. It is also conveniently located for late- night travellers and is easily accessible by taxis.

“The trade was keen to see this rank reinstated, so I hope that it will be popular.”