TAXI drivers are asking passengers to throw their weight behind demands for a 24-hour rank in the centre of York to be brought back into use.

York Taxi Association (YTA) is hoping for a fresh wave of public support for its calls to allow the facility in Duncombe Place, pictured, to operate round-the-clock following the rejection of their appeals by the city’s political chiefs.

City of York Council’s city strategy panel last week decided to look at alternative sites for city centre ranks first, which could include reinstating a taxi point in St Sampson’s Square and opening a new site in Lendal.

But YTA says Duncombe Place – where drivers currently have to stop picking up fares at 10pm – should return to 24-hour use because it is the safest and most well-lit rank in York.

Drivers who operate from there are now carrying petition forms in their vehicles which passengers will be asked to sign as the associations aims to keep the pressure on the council for a change of heart.

“We know there is public support for making Duncombe Place a 24-hour rank and we are not prepared to let this go,” said YTA secretary Graham Phillips.

“Hopefully, many passengers will sign this petition and we can then take this forward, because we believe there is strong support for us on this issue. Compared with other ranks, Duncombe Place offers a convenient, safe environment and a peaceful queue.

“There is no way we can afford not to follow this up.”

Duncombe Place’s opening times were cut two years ago following complaints from the nearby Dean Court Hotel and local residents about night-time noise emanating from taxi queues.

But Coun Ian Gillies, chairman of the city strategy panel, said: “We are reviewing the provision of other taxi ranks in the city centre and it is only reasonable that we look at Duncombe Place once we have this overall picture.

“It may then be that allowing it to open as 24-hour rank would come back into the overall strategy and be seen as appropriate, but there is no point in doing something piecemeal.”