A GROUP of Braunton taxi drivers say they are getting a raw deal from the council, who charge them more than £300 a year to use a rank they claim is continually full of delivery vans and private cars.
The rank, which is on Exeter Road, in front of Squires Fish Restaurant, is the only dedicated taxi rank in the village.
And each cabbie has to pay North Devon Council £307.25 per vehicle, for the right to use it on a yearly basis.
But this week the NDC admitted they have no power to stop people parking in taxi ranks in North Devon.
Tony Lynch of T and T taxis said: "We spend more than £300 to get a licence to use the rank and there's always cars and vans in it.
"There was a van parked there from 9am-3pm the other day. We rang the council, but they said there's nothing they can do about it because there is no enforcement officer in Braunton, which I find ridiculous — they want our money fast enough."
Tony added: "We've been up to the Civic Centre and rung the council, but nothing is getting done about it, you just get constantly fobbed-off."
Peter Hutton of Peaches Taxis said: "We've tried and tried to do something about it, but the council seem to just bury their heads in the sand."
He added: "But I've also heard that none of the officers can actually book the cars parking in the rank, because it's not a proper taxi rank as denoted in the Highway Code.
"Apparently for it to be a proper one, you actually have to have an upright sign next to it saying it's a taxi rank.
"But none of the North Devon ones have this. I've spoken to the council about it, but again they don't seem to be doing anything."
But Martin Williams, Transportation and Procurement Manager at North Devon Council, said they are dealing with the issue.
He said: "We are aware of the issues with parking at the taxi rank in Braunton.
"We are currently unable to enforce the taxi rank as we are awaiting an amendment to the signs and lines.
"The County Council are aware of the situation and have scheduled to put it right.
"We sympathise with the taxi drivers and are working in partnership to resolve the matter as soon as possible."