April 30, 2007
Lack of taxi rank 'putting women at risk at night'
TAXI drivers in Ware fear women are being put at risk at night-time by the absence of a proper rank.
Unlike Hertford, which boasts large taxi ranks and marshals, Ware has no designated area to pick up a taxi and rogue cabbies descend on the town every weekend.
Yet nightlife in Ware is booming, thanks partly to Club Sky in Amwell End and the new Storm bar.
Graham Roberts, who owns Dane End Cars, said: "We desperately need a night-time taxi rank in Ware.
"Any young lady who does not know the area would not find the cab office at the train station and could get picked up by anyone.
"We've been asking the council for a rank for years, but now it is getting desperate."
Taxi drivers licensed by East Herts Council also claim taxis from other areas are 'poaching' on their patch - and are not always insured to carry passengers from Ware.
Graham said: "They trawl up and down looking for customers from Sky. They just shouldn't be there."
An East Herts council spokeswoman said: "We proposed a rank outside Club Sky, but the town council objected.
"We have asked the owners of Club Sky to help fund taxi marshals and will be looking at this again after the elections."
The council recently prosecuted two illegal cab drivers from Broxbourne and Welwyn Garden City, who were fined £100 and £100 costs.
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