“The driver argued that he wasn't parked on a rank”: Wolverhampton licensed private hire challenged for stopping on Merseyside taxi rank
- Perry Richardson
- 8 minutes ago
- 1 min read
A Wolverhampton licensed private hire vehicle was stopped by compliance officers in St Helens town centre after the driver pulled onto a marked taxi rank.
St Helens Council officers reported the incident on Monday after finding the white Kia PHV on a rank restricted for Hackney Carriages only.
According to the compliance team, the driver argued he had not parked on a rank, despite road markings and nearby signage specifying that only taxis are permitted to stop in the area.
In a social media post, published by Wolverhampton Council’s Public Protection team, it stated that a private hire car is not permitted to stop, pick up or drop off on a designated taxi rank at any time. Local authorities across the North West have frequently repeated the point as rising numbers of out of area PHV drivers continue to work in busy town centres under the Deregulation Act framework.
Taxi ranks are installed for Hackney Carriages that can legally ply for hire, and councils report that private hire drivers parking on ranks can obstruct licensed taxis, create confusion for passengers and undermine enforcement efforts.
A WV Public Protection spokesperson said: “This afternoon, Compliance came across this City of Wolverhampton Council PHV on a taxi rank, in St. Helens Town Centre, Merseyside.
“The driver argued that he wasn't parked on a rank, I beg to differ!!
“A private hire vehicle is NOT a taxi, don't stop, pick up or drop off on a taxi rank.”
