Cabbies in Thornbury, Stockton, are elated with the news that, following a year-long fight, they have been granted a new taxi rank in the town centre.
Rank Approval
Mark Strange, a taxi driver of 15 years, has been arguing his case for the need for a two-car taxi rank in the town after the council removed the old rank outside Asda during a revamp.
The long-awaited hackney taxi rank will be situated near Lidl and will be in operation 24-hours a day.
Mr Strange said: “After looking at the legal side we found that, by law, there had to be a taxi rank there.
“Now we have secured the official rank we would like the public to know that it’s for their benefit.
“It’s been a long time coming but we got there in the end.”
Cabbies Gratitude to Council
After a long battle, Mr Strange and his fellow cabbies are breathing a sigh of relief and are grateful to the council and associations that helped in having the rank approved.
Mr Strange added: “I’d like to thank Councillor Steve Walmsley who has been great, Stockton Hackney Carriage Drivers Association, Capita Symonds and Stockton Council for the effort they have all put into this.
“With the new road open and the McDonald’s built it’s a thriving town centre and has all the facilities the public needs.”