'No more space for taxis in city centre'
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TRAFFIC experts at Highland Council have admitted they have stalled in finding any new taxi rank locations in Inverness city centre.
But they are refusing to put the handbrake on controversial moves to close the popular rank in Castle Wynd – with January 14 pinpointed.
Inverness councillors were being told on Thursday that more work needed to be done on an idea to set up a new rank in Eastgate, despite proposing it six months ago.
The council’s principal traffic officer Shane Manning said: “It is currently planned to limit access from January 14, however this date is subject to contract tendering for works.”
A council spokeswoman clarified “there will be no changes to the rank operation this side of Christmas.”
Mr Manning dismissed alternatives “for additional rank allocation eastbound on Bridge Street outside the Caledonian Bar” which could only offer two spaces and was already a busy area after 6pm.
“Officers have extensively reviewed alternatives with the taxi representatives and Police Scotland and have been unable to identify any additional space available in the city centre at this time,” he said.
“Officers will continue to consider taxi rank allocation in all future development plans within the city centre.”
Andrew Macdonald, chairman of the Inverness Taxi Alliance, is against closure of the Castle Wynd rank.
He said: “This illustrates to us that the work at the castle is a cosmetic operation to fancify the entrance at the expense of a safe, well-used taxi rank without a tangible or usable alternative to it.
“The Castle Wynd rank operates in a U-shape and can take 28 cars at time.
“It can clear Johnny Foxes, the Gellions, and McDonald’s rapidly and safely and there is no way an additional four spaces elsewhere is going to be able to do the same.”
