Taxi drivers still want access along Drake Street but council leader says 'trams and taxis don't mix'

No taxis

Taxi drivers are still pushing the council to allow them to use the bottom of Drake Street. Drivers of both hackney carriages and private hire taxis were stopped from using part of the street after the tram was introduced but drivers have been campaigning ever since to change councillors minds but leader of the council, Councillor Richard Farnell says "trams and taxis dont mix".

At yesterday’s (Wednesday 10 September) Rochdale Township Committee meeting, a representative for hackney carriage drivers asked councillors about the trial period that was due to be set for drivers – something that never happened.

Mark Widdup, Director of Economy and Environment at Rochdale Council, said: “A discussion was had around an experimental traffic order to allow hackney carriages along Drake Street. This is something that could be done again but we would have to asses the impact that this would have and it is something that I can bring back to township.”

Mr Widdup then discussed issues regarding this idea including a wider consultation that would have to take place with Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) and the police. He added: “This is something that both bodies have already said they would likely object to and that could then bring about a public enquiry if we were to go ahead anyway.”

Other issues were also addressed including taxis using cobbled streets – which were deemed dangerous for passengers by drivers and the fact that by not using Drake Street, the fare to passengers is increased which causes problems for the drivers.

There was also a dispute about vehicles using the road when they shouldn’t be with accusations of polices cars and residents using the road at night time with Friday and Saturday night being described as a “nightmare".

Councillor Terry Linden said: “There has been lots of discussion about this and we are currently building a new taxi stand on River Street which you will be able to use so you won’t need to use Drake Street.”

Councillor Richard Farnell added: “We don’t need a new report on this. Trams and taxis don’t mix. It was part of the agreement that Drake Street would be off limits to vehicles but busses and trams when the Metrolink was discussed.

"Once you start interfering with the tram schedule you start interfering with the whole schedule and we can’t have that. From what I understand when the tram goes to Manchester Airport, trams will be running every six minutes and not every twelve so that would add to the danger of adding cars along that road. When you make changes like this people aren’t going to be happy but I think people are now getting used to it.”

It was agreed that a new report regarding this matter would not need to be presented to the township.