Taxi drivers in South Oxhey, Watford, are worried about the impact of a new development in the town’s busy Station Approach area that could potentially see the number of taxi bays cut from eight to four at the busiest rank.
The redevelopment, which is spearheaded by Three Rivers District Council and Countryside Properties, is part of a multi-million pound project that has recently been given the green light. However, while the ambitious plans could bring plenty of investment into the area, taxi drivers are up in arms as the lucrative Station Approach bays are under fire.
Corporate Greed or a New Start?
“So many lifelong businesses are being destroyed by the development.”
Driver Eddie Steel, who has operated a taxi for nearly 40 years, recently spoke of his and other drivers’ concerns over the changes to the Station Approach taxi rank. He said: “The people of South Oxhey need this taxi rank and so do we – there’s always a stream of people queuing at it.
“This project is all about corporate greed. So many lifelong businesses are being destroyed by the development; they’re just being shoved out. But the council and developers don’t care.”
The £150 million regeneration of the area started late last year and is set to continue for another five years. Major changes are in store, with the demolition of part of the South Oxhey estate and over 500 new homes, a new supermarket and a retail park being built.
A Blow to the Taxi Industry
“We’re calling on residents to lobby their councillors and MPs to stop this from happening.”
Taxi drivers are concerned that five years of upheaval will effectively demolish the trade. The council has been accused of keeping locals in the dark over the plans for redevelopment, forcing many businesses to relocate outside the area. Drivers are furious that there was no consultation about the proposed removal of half of the bays at the Station Approach rank and that the first they knew of the plan was a letter sent to them just a few weeks before.
Mr Steel explained: “It’s impossible to talk to anyone at the council. No one seems to have the answers and you just get passed from one person to the next. We’re calling on residents to lobby their councillors and MPs to stop this from happening.”
Improved Amenities
In response, the council has said that the redevelopment had received a full public consultation in September 2016 and will ‘transform’ the area. A spokesperson for Countryside Properties also insisted that the development would lead to much-improved amenities for the local community and that: “Great effort has been made to meet pedestrian, drop-off, taxi and retail servicing needs whilst delivering an attractive and useable public space in this important next phase of the South Oxhey Initiative.”
Local cabbies, however, remain unconvinced and are continuing to petition the council to protect the vitally important Station Approach bay for the foreseeable future.