Traffic restrictions in Watford can prove a real headache when taking a taxi direct from the town centre during rush hour.
With bus lanes through the town centre largely empty the answer might seem obvious but taxi drivers are angry that a request made to Hertfordshire County Council to use the town’s bus lanes at peak times has not been answered.
Watford Hackney Carriage Drivers’ Association made the request five months ago with the backing of its local licensing authority, Watford Borough Council. However the taxi association says it has had no response to the submission.
Taxi Direct
Taxi operators say that, at peak times, Watford town centre is virtually grid-locked – forcing drivers to seek out alternative routes and adding to customers’ journey times.
Shafiq Ahmed, chairman of the hackney taxi association, explained that congestion at Watford Junction train station is so bad that fares are routinely over six pounds before the cab has even left the station forecourt. As a result, he claims, business is declining as customers are being driven away from using taxis.
Ignored
The submission from the Drivers’ Association to Hertfordshire County Council, which controls the road network in the town, requested that taxis be allowed to use the bus lanes in Lower High Street and outside Watford Junction train station, in Station Road.
However, the Association claims that the authority has ignored its request, to the detriment of its members. Mr Ahmed explained: “Five months ago they said they would come back to us but there has been no progress.
“Ironically, if we drive into London, we can use the bus lanes there but not in our own town.