Braintree: Car park entrance is "dangerous," say taxi drivers
Taxi drivers have branded a car park entrance in the middle of their rank as “dangerous” after the county council spent more than £100, 000 improving the site.
Essex County Council spent £172, 000 to improve the bus park area off Manor Street, Braintree, in November 2008, but Hackney Carriage cab drivers believe the changes have just created a health and safety hazard.
The work included four new bus stands with passenger shelters, information display systems, and the entrance to the car park nextdoor was altered so cars no longer needed to enter the bus park to get in and out.
The new entrance and exit cuts through the taxi rank, which means the view for cars entering and leaving can be obscured by taxis queuing, while at the same time they had to be aware of pedestrians, drivers said.
David Rowe, a driver with Blue Star Cars, of The Avenue, Braintree, said it was “not an ideal situation.”
The 60-year-old said: “It’s a road safety hazard for people trying to get in and out of the car park because obviously they have to be aware of traffic coming and some of the taxis are quite big and obscure the view, and also they have to be aware of people on the pavement as well.”
Jenny Mayes, a spokewoman for Braintree Council, said: “With over 23 buses arriving and departing every hour, these improvements were essential for everyone's safety and for the efficiency of the interchange area.”