TAXI drivers in Minehead have hit back at criticism from local traders over the introduction of two new ranks in the town.

The Free Press revealed last week the level of anger the additional five spaces in The Parade and The Avenue had sparked.

Newly elected Minehead Chamber of Trade chairman Marcus Kravis described their appearance as "an unbelievable kick in the teeth" for local businesses and demanded their immediate removal.

He claimed they represented a major change that could have a huge economic impact on the town.

But this week taxi driver Mark Heard said the three-space rank outside the new Iceland store was regarded as a valuable asset.

He said although the Minehead drivers had no industry organisation that represented them, they were fairly united on their views over the additional ranks.

"The rank in The Parade in particular gives shoppers who don't have a car more transport options - it's a fair trek up to the main rank for people with heavy shopping bags," said Mr Heard.

"The traders are complaining about the loss of parking but the town centre isn't just about people who drive cars."

Mr Heard said he wanted Mr Kravis to clarify his belief that the new ranks could have a huge economic impact on the town centre.

"Has he got any proof or evidence to back up that assertion? I'd like to know whether traders suffered any significant loss in takings when a number of parking bays were out of action while the new street lights were installed recently."

Mr Heard said The Parade rank was simply replacing the three-space feeder rank that was lost when town centre enhancement work was carried out some years ago.

And he questioned why nobody complained about the loss of seven parking spaces when part of The Parade is cordoned off for the weekly farmers' market.

"We're not very happy about the farmers' market but we accept that we all have to live and work in the town and it's no good complaining all the time about everything," he said.

"We're all trying to make a living and taxi drivers are no different to anyone else in that respect.

"I just wish the chamber of trade would come up with positive alternatives instead of constantly moaning."

On Tuesday, West Somerset Council's licensing committee formally approved plans to monitor the effectiveness of the new ranks over the next six months.

A full report on the impact of the ranks would then be given to the committee.

Members also agreed to extend the authority's consultation procedures after being told many Minehead residents felt aggrieved they had not been asked for their views about the new ranks.

The council's legal advisor Roy Pinney said the authority had fully adhered to its existing consultation rules before publicly discussing and voting to introduce three taxi spaces outside of Iceland and two overnight spaces outside the Leather Shop some 14 months ago.

Cllr Tony Knight said he had been surprised by the reaction to the new ranks as Minehead town councillors had been part of the discussions and had been fully supportive of the proposals.

But he agreed the council should extend the formal list of consultees to include businesses and residents likely to be affected by an application, parish and town councillors, local police officers and chambers of trade.

Licensing officer Kay O'Sullivan said the council had spoken to Minehead police, highways and ward councillors before any decision was made about the new ranks and said the proposals had also been advertised twice and featured in two prominent stories in the Free Press.

Cllr Peter Humber said he was pleased the council had reacted quickly to the concerns raised by Minehead traders although Mrs O'Sullivan warned it would take six months to revoke the order which created the new taxi ranks.

Cllr Sandra Slade was critical that the six month trial was being done during Minehead's busy summer season and said it was appalling the town had lost five badly needed short-stay shoppers' parking spaces.

She blamed taxi drivers for causing problems in the town by trying to squeeze more cabs into the ranks then they had been designed to take.

"There are always more taxis than there are spaces," she said. "That's what causes problems.

"Who asked for this in the first place? In Minehead there is a lack of short-term parking spaces for shoppers and this has taken away five more spaces.

"Minehead Town Council was apparently consulted but doesn't seem to know what they did or didn't say."