Cabbies fume over rank fines

3:08pm Thursday 28th August 2008

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A rank for six taxis is at the centre of a row in Abingdon with drivers complaining that only five cars can fit on it.

Cabbies say they are fed up with being given £30 fines for parking inches over lines marking out the rank in East St Helen Street.

Jane Smith, who runs local firm PJ Taxis with husband Peter, was given a ticket last week.

She claimed her taxi's back wheels were "a couple of inches" over the end of the taxi rank, but she still got a fine.

The 47-year-old said: "For 15 years I have parked there and there's a sign that says it's for six taxis, but the sixth car keeps getting tickets.

"It's not funny when you spend £30 before you even start work.

"They're targeting us and this is literally becoming a nightmare as we're going to work and getting tickets. They're trying to stop us earning a living, which is hard enough as it is in Abingdon with the traffic."

The Vale of White Horse District Council insisted there was enough room for six taxis if they parked bumper-to-bumper.

Peter Warren, of PW Cars, was also given a ticket last month. He said: "I'm upset, because it stops me from earning a living.

"If you can't get on the taxi rank, then you can't get a fare and then you can't get a living.

"They have given us no alternative place to park. The taxi rank can't take six cars, as it's supposed to."

Matty Bird, 29, who works for Su's Taxis, said: "The taxi rank is slightly too short. They're targeting the taxis that park outside Fat Face and it has started recently.

"I was really annoyed, as I was only doing my day's work and I received a £30 fine - it was more than I made that day."

Council spokesman Gavin Walton confirmed the East St Helen Street rank was designed for six taxis.

He said: "If they park bumper-to-bumper - that's what they are supposed to do - they can fit in. We understand that the police requested that they do not overhang."

Sgt Charlie Pollard, of Abingdon police station, said: "If we catch a vehicle parked where it shouldn't be, the driver will be issued with a £30 fixed penalty notice."