FORTY-EIGHT drivers handed fines as Worcester City Council clamp down on illegal taxi rank parking

Worcester City Council civil enforcement officers have stepped up patrols in the city centre after a spate of complaints about illegal parking around taxi ranks.

Forty eight drivers have received £70 fines this month alone for the misuse of taxi ranks in areas including Foregate Street, The Cross and Friar Street.

Representatives of Worcester's taxi drivers have asked for the extra patrols in a bid to keep traffic flowing smoothly.

Worcester City Council's civil enforcement officers have been monitoring the situation late at night on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays during November and have also increased their presence at taxi ranks during mornings and late afternoons. These evening patrols have resulted in 48 penalty charge notices being issued.

On Friday 18 November, City Council civil enforcement officers joined forces with staff from Worcestershire Regulatory Services to patrol the city centre checking for the misuse of taxi ranks and vehicles parked in restricted areas. They issued nine penalty charge notices – one in Foregate Street, three in Farrier Street, three in The Cross and one in New Street.

Although illegal parking is for local councils to enforce, if a vehicle is parked dangerously or in a way that could prevent emergency vehicle access then it should be reported to police.

Councillor Richard Udall, Chair of the Licensing and Environmental Health Committee, said: "Residents and taxi drivers have been complaining for some time about obstructive and illegal parking in the city centre, especially around or adjacent to taxi ranks. We have previously issued a number of warnings and asked for co-operation, but unfortunately a tiny minority of drivers have continued to ignore our warnings.

"It only takes one or two badly parked cars to cause chaos and traffic disruption, they are a hazard to other road users including public transport and cyclists.

"It's now time to get tough. If they continue to ignore the parking restrictions, they will face the consequences. The restrictions exist for good reasons, for public safety and we will not compromise on such an important issue. Our simple message is park legally or don't park at all - move on and go elsewhere."