New taxi rank to be considered for road

A NEW taxi rank could be incorporated along a city road amid plans to create one of the first fully segregated bike lanes in Portsmouth.

During a licensing meeting where councillors were considering changes to taxi ranks last week they requested that a three-car rank could become part of plans for Elm Grove, in Southsea.

Currently the council is consulting on whether to remove on-street parking in the road to make way for temporary segregated bike lanes on both sides – but maintaining bus stops and disabled parking.

At the meeting Councillor Scott Payter-Harris said: ‘It is a bit short sighted, we could be looking at accommodating a small rank on Elm Grove. If we can have a bus stop why can’t we have a taxi rank?

‘I think sometimes taxi drivers feel left behind.’

Cllr Linda Symes added: ‘There are lots of supermarkets down there. Surely taxis are needed by some people? They might not want to get the bus, which is in their right, and if there is no rank you are stopping other ways of them getting home.’

Committee chair Cllr Claire Udy agreed. ‘I am a fan of the active travel plans but it should not be restrictive to taxis,’ she said.

Other changes agreed included a 24 hour four-car taxi rank opposite the Kings Theatre in Albert Road.

Council officers agreed to look at ways of including the rank in the plans – which are currently out for consultation with residents and businesses via portsmouth.gov.uk/ elmgrove.