York taxi drivers in rank petition (From York Press)

York taxi drivers in rank petition

7:25am Saturday 6th March 2010

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SCORES of people have signed a petition calling for a taxi rank in York’s Duncombe Place to reopen in the late evening.

The petition has been organised by York Taxi Association, which has been dismayed by a City of York Council decision to close the rank between 10pm and 7.30am.

The petition, signed by at least 180 people, said people preferred Duncombe Place to other locations because it was most convenient and offered a “safe environment and peaceful queue” compared with other ranks.

“We have not witnessed or experienced any disturbance, that’s why we use this rank,” it said. “If we cannot get home quickly and safely, we would stop supporting York’s night-time economy.”

Two students, Becky Sanchez and Meg Boulton, have also written to express their deep concern about the early closure of the rank.

Claiming they were writing on behalf of a number of students and staff at the University of York, they said: “A great many of us use this rank, as it is the most well-lit and safe place to catch a taxi in the whole of York.

“As many of us have been very shaken by the disappearance of Claudia Lawrence, we strongly object to any measure that would force us to wait in areas of town that make us feel unsafe.

“We would strongly object to any measure that would force us to wait in areas of town that make us feel unsafe.”

Association secretary Graham Phillips said he understood the council was about to launch a crackdown on drivers using the rank out of hours, following the opening of a new night-time rank in St Sampson’s Square.

A council spokeswoman said it could not comment as it had not yet received the petition.

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