THE city centre has a new taxi rank.
The evening and night-time rank has been created in St John Street. It follows a request from the Chester Licensed Taxi Association that licensing officers should consider additional hackney carriage rank space in the city centre around St John Street where the association suggests night time visitors congregate looking for transport.
The association has a long-standing argument there is a lack of available ranks, according to a report and argued that with the opening of new venues there would be increased demand.
City and county councillors agreed the application in March on the basis of the number of existing and proposed late night premises in the area. They proposed hours of 6pm-8am.
The rank was advertised for public consultation and Chester's highways and transportation local joint committee heard an objection has been raised on behalf of Wesley Methodist Church.
The church argued that in view of the “numerous” evening activities at its St John Street premises, the designation of the rank during the evening could create “significant problems”.
Licensing officers said that in order to satisfy all parties, they proposed to amend the times to 11pm-5.30am which would bring the rank in line with all the other late night taxi ranks in the city.
This was accepted by the committee which has now been told the rank is in force.
