It’s not a question of hail but farewell to two part-time taxi ranks in Ellesmere Port which were agreed for closure.

The decision involved a rank on the A41 Chester Road in Little Sutton near Heath Lane and the rank which served the Sportsman’s Arms on Whitby Road near Pooltown Road. Both were said to be in the Ellesmere Port and Neston hackney carriage zone.

Licensing officers recommended the designations should be withdrawn and all rank markings and signage should be removed.

The proposal arose following the lack of any use of the ranks by the trade and in the case of the Little Sutton rank following complaints of a lack of general parking from local residents and businesses according to a report.

Councillors heard the evening and night time rank on Chester Road operated from 8pm to 5.30am.

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They noted that local residents and businesses had submitted a petition opposing the rank. Officers had made observations during its hours of operation and had not seen any hackney carriages or customers using the bays.

Members of the public and the Ellesmere Port Hackney Carriage Association had not opposed the removal of the rank which was described as being in ‘a difficult location and facing in the wrong direction’.

On Whitby Road, councillors were told the rank was no longer used. It had been provided to service the area outside the Sportsman Arms pub but this had closed more than four years ago.

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There was no support for retaining the rank from the trade itself or the public.

Councillors recommended the closures should be agreed and this was approved by environment and community portfolio holder Mark Henesy (Lab, Strawberry).