Inverness City Centre Street Scene
Stakeholders Meeting 25th January 2010
I attended a meeting regarding the above, with
Peter Taylor, and again brought to the attention of those present
the problems the taxi trade is faced with as follows:-
Taxi Ranks: That we have been allocated evening rank spaces
and still cannot operate from them because of illegal parking
by the general public. I was assured that all the city evening
beat officers had been issued with books of tickets and will
be active in issuing them against all offending motorists.
The pedestrian crossing between William Hill and
the now empty "Your Move" premises is to be removed.
Funding has now been approved and it is planned to be carried
out as soon as possible. Once they're removed, the traffic lights
at the Queensgate /Struthers Lane junction will be re-programmed.
The giving back of Marks & Spencer bus stop
to the trade is still under discussion and it is hoped a decision
will be reached in due course.
The taxi ranks allocated on Union Street (evening) are still
being held up by "Historic Scotland".
On Tuesday the 26th January 2010 I attended a
City Forum Meeting at the Town House. The subject was "Policing".
The meeting was chaired by Provost Gray and the speakers were
Police Superintendent Ian Arnott, Chief Inspector Andrew Maclean
and Chief Inspector James Neil.
I brought up yet again the problems of the taxi ranks and was
assured by Chief Inspector Andrew Maclean that his officers
will be policing our ranks and issuing parking tickets.
I also brought up the question of fare dodgers/runners; needless
to say they seemed appalled at what has gone on. When drivers
reported the incidents, they were told "The Northern Constabulary
are not debt collectors!" I was told that from a policing
point of view it is a criminal offence (fraud) and perpetrators
should be apprehended. But they did give a bit of advice that
if you do take an out of town fare off the ranks insist on being
paid in advance, if the customers refuses don't take them.
Operations to be carried out in February,
mobile phone usage whilst driving and speed detection on all
roads.
Correspondence 11/1/2010
David Haas (City Manager) Highland Council
Town House
Inverness
Vic Rawlins (Chairman) Taxi Association
C/o 17 Craigton Avenue Inverness
IV38AZ
Tel: 07761234535 11-01-10
Dear David,
Re: Night-rider bus service and taxi rank Marshalls
I refer to the above service following a brief
meeting with you on the 5th January at the Town House
and confirm the following:
Over the New Year weekend only one bus service operated
and that was on New Year's Eve. The bus did not stop
at the 'Falcon Square' stand but occupied the taxi rank
at the 'Filling Station', Academy Street filling his
vehicle with taxi trade custom leaving those at Falcon
Square in the cold. The actions of this driver are not
acceptable to those who I represent.
With regards to the Marshalls, they were only present
on New Year's Eve for less than an hour and then left,
they did not return for the rest of the New Year weekend.
I feel that had the Marshall been present the nightrider
bus would not have stopped on one of our busiest ranks
but would have been moved on.
Understandably some taxi operators had difficulties
getting to work from their homes and some left work
early in order to get home but for the many that stayed
on they should be commended. Throughout the night and
the New Year weekend, they drove through horrendous
weather conditions making sure that all who use our
service got home safe and secure.
It beggars belief that in these times of recession when
financial cutbacks have to be made the £8000 of
the public money to be paid to the bus company for a
service that at its introduction in December 1999 -
January 2000 was poorly utilised by the public was subsequently
discontinued then to be re-introduced some 3 years ago.
If this money has to be spent I am sure it could be
spent on a worthier cause.
A further question needs to be seriously asked that
with a more than adequate "Taxi Service" valued
by the general public and supposedly the Highland Council,
do we need a "festive nightrider" bus service
in the first place???
With regards to the main purpose of this letter I shall
leave it to your good self to carry out your own investigations
into why services paid for were not delivered.
Vic Rawlins (Chairman) Info: Jim Ferguson
(Operation Respect) Mike Elsie (Senior Licensing Officer)
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