A SUGGESTION that part of a section of on-street parking in Launceston change to accommodate a small taxi rank and parking for shoppers at a 45-degree angle was described as ‘inspired’ at a meeting of the town council last week.

Cllr Dave Gordon told the council of the recent meeting between Conservative North Cornwall MP Scott Mann, town council representatives, representatives of the taxi drivers and police and CORMAC, who saw the location of the current taxi rank along Broad Street, and heard possible sites for its relocation.

As reported in the Post (May 12), the meeting at the time was told Cornwall Council would soon be reviewing taxi rank licensing, and that public consultation would have to be carried out before the taxi rank would be moved.

While all parties agreed the location of the current taxi rank is not suitable, town councillors and taxi drivers disagreed on where the new rank should go.

Taxi driver representatives said they would like to see the rank along the cobbled pedestrianised section of Launceston Town Square, but Cllr Gordon told the town council last week that the space ‘wasn’t up for negotiation’.

He added: “We all know the town centre is not a huge space and alternative taxi location options are limited.

“The town council’s long term view along with the police is to see both High Street and Westgate Street pedestrianised along with the safe pedestrian movement in the town square.

“In my opinion there are only two viable locations — Madford Lane and Western Road along the Castle wall.”

At the meeting with the MP, taxi driver Mervyn Pollard said taxis pulling up on Madford Lane would leave the passengers exiting the vehicle into the oncoming traffic, and raised concerns the rank would then not be in the centre of the town as it is currently.

Cllr Gordon suggested to the town council that there could be four taxi rank spaces along Madford Lane on the Arcade side, and three taxi spaces along the Castle wall — which he said was an increase of 75% of taxi rank space in comparison to the current site, which has four spaces.

Cllr Gordon added: “Along the Castle wall would see the loss of some free one-hour spaces. I propose a 45-degree angle for the remaining spaces, limiting the loss of spaces to the spaces taken by the taxis.”

Cllr Paul O’Brien said he agreed with the idea of two separate taxi ranks, and although he would ‘normally oppose’ parking at an angle, having worked in a town for seven years with similar parking, he added: “[While] that end of Western Road coming up the hill is not one way, in practical terms it’s not far off it.

“That third suggestion [parking at a 45-degree angle], which I haven’t thought of, I think that’s damn well inspired.”

Mayor Cllr Brian Hogan described Cllr Gordon’s suggestions as ‘eminently sensible’ adding: “I think parking at an angle to me makes sense.”

Cllr Roger Creagh-Osborne objected to the idea, stating the road is two-way, adding: “I think we should just bite the bullet and lose three or four parking spaces.”

At the meeting, which was held on Friday, May 13, councillors agreed that Cllrs O’Brien and Gordon, and town clerk Rita Skinner, will meet again with the representatives of the taxi drivers as soon as possible, to discuss further the possible relocation of the taxi rank.