Higher fares and poor disabled access could hit passengers following Brighton taxi rank move
- Perry Richardson
- Oct 8, 2019
- 2 min read
There has been mixed reactions to the relocation of the Brighton taxi rank to the rear of the train station. Taxi drivers have been vocal in their concerns over moving the taxi rank from its prominent position at the busy Brighton station.
Concerns from industry representatives include a lack of consultation on the move, possibility of poor disabled access, higher fares for passengers travelling south and not enough rank space for the 300 permits issued to taxi drivers for an annual fee of £1,000. The decision by Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) to move the rank follows years of campaigning from local residents, who say nearby roads such as Surrey Street have become ‘permanent traffic queues’ as taxis and buses make their way to the southern entrance of the station. Local ward Councillor Lizzie Deane welcomed the news, citing several meetings with both GTR and residents where she had urged the railway company to address the concerns about engine idling, traffic fumes, noise and late night disturbance. Green Councillor Lizzie Deane added: “Residents will be pleased that GTR have finally taken the decision to relocate the taxi rank to the rear of the train station, freeing up the narrow residential streets they live on from traffic fumes, congestion and noise. This news will be particularly welcomed by people living on Surrey Street and Upper Gloucester Road where day-long traffic queues have become commonplace. “Greens repeatedly urged the railway company to acknowledge residents’ concerns, arranging public meetings and also raising this at council committees. “The existing arrangement has been far from ideal, even for car drivers – as Surrey Street in particular has become overly congested, with buses also finding it hard to get through to the station. It is also hoped that any longer journeys southbound will be counterbalanced by shorter journeys to other parts of the city. “Overall, I believe there will be benefits for everyone with this new arrangement, and I encourage GTR to reach out to as many groups as possible in order to make sure their plans for the new rank are as accessible and user-friendly as possible.”
