UNMARKED taxi ranks are causing a loss in business, claim some cabbies working in the town centre.
Hackney carriage drivers say because the rank in the Market Place is unmarked, the space is constantly packed with parked cars.

Akooji Badat, joint chairman of the taxi association, said several drivers had reported the problem to him, saying thatADVERTISEMENToften the parked cars belong to take-away customers.

He said: "From 6pm to 6am it's supposed to be for the taxis. The taxi drivers are fed up. Even if they could just get two or three spaces there it would be something. There is supposed to be space for about six to seven cars."

Hackney carriage drivers are also upset there are no proper markings for the taxi rank outside Mungo's and Sizzler's in Bradford Road.

And they are angry that private hire cars are plying for trade there – which is illegal.

Hackney taxis pick up fares by being flagged down by pedestrians on the street, whereas private cars can only take pre-booked fares.

Mr Badat warned that anyone who gets into a private hire taxi is not covered by the driver's insurance.

He added: "Mungo's opens until 6am on weekends now. There is a lot of business. But we are having all sorts of problems with private hire cars there, and they are from all over Kirklees. Drivers are fed up with them plying for hire at the rank.

"The rank has been allocated for about a year and was supposed to be marked out.

"Kirklees Council licensing department is supposed to enforce the rules but they are not doing anything.

"It's also happening outside the Frontier. Private hire taxis take all the business. It's been going on for so long now. It's our bread and butter that they are taking."

In Kirklees there are 250 Hackney carriage cars and 1,500 private hire cars.

A council spokesman said the Market Place rank would be marked out very soon.

But the rank in Bradford Road is only temporary, and would only be marked out properly if it becomes permanent.

He added: "In relation to private hire taxis plying for trade, we will act on any complaints that are made to us and take the necessary action.

"It is illegal for them to be plying for passengers on the street. We have taken action previously, and will continue to do so if information is supplied to us which we can follow through."

http://www.batleynews.co.uk/news/Pulling-rank–Taxi-drivers.4152457.jp