SIR — Those of us who oppose the new Minehead taxi ranks, particularly the one outside the Iceland store, should be alert to the impending review by West Somerset Council following the end of the six-month trial period.
I strongly urge those who wish to secure the reinstatement of a few precious parking spaces to make their wishes known before it is too late.
It may be only four to five spaces now, but over the past few years there has been a steady loss of parking availability within Minehead, which is vital for healthy town centre trade. Where will the next loss occur?
Earlier this year, a claim was made that there was universal support for the new rank by our local taxi drivers, so how was it that so many of them knew nothing about it? I seldom see more than one taxi in the new Iceland rank, occasionally two, often none, yet the original rank in The Parade usually has several, perhaps six or more. This supports the lack of enthusiasm for the new rank by other taxi drivers.
A further claim made was that intending taxi passengers had to carry heavy shopping bags to the original rank, but what about car passengers carrying heavy shopping bags? They now have to carry their bags further on average. Do they not count?
What do shoppers carrying heavy shopping from Tesco do? Could it be they make a prior arrangement to be collected, or perhaps use a telephone? Will the next move be a demand to set up a taxi rank in Tesco's car park?
It is my belief that the district councillors were duped to make the decision to hold the trial and suggest they failed to give the measure adequate consideration. Hopefully they will now decide the trial was ill-founded and should be discontinued.
I have written to my local councillor and urge other people who wish to park and shop in Minehead to make their views known, not just among friends, but to the local council. That is what they are there for.
Ken Sims,