Taxi marshalling scheme on the move
Released: 23 January 2007
Visitors to Wolverhampton city centre will continue to benefit from the taxi marshalling scheme which is in operation to help ensure that they get home safely in the evenings – but one of the collection points is on the move.
The 12-month trial scheme, which covers both hackney carriage and private hire vehicles, has been in operation since October and has helped hundreds of people to get home safely.
The site of the private hire collection point will be re-located to Wolverhampton Bus Station at Pipers Row from this Friday 26 January. The decision has been taken as a result of feedback from the public. The hackney carriage collection point remains unchanged at Lichfield Street - opposite Barclays Bank.
The scheme will otherwise operate as before with two taxi marshals at each location from 11.30pm to 3.30am on Fridays and Saturdays.
Councillor Bishan Dass, chairman of the city council’s licensing committee, said: “Hundreds of people have already made use of the taxi marshalling scheme to ensure they get home safely. We have taken the decision to move the private hire collection point to Pipers Row which we feel will be easier for people to get to. It is in a central location nearer to pubs, bars, clubs, restaurants and the theatre.
“I and other members of the licensing committee will be spending an evening in the city centre on February 9 to see the taxi marshals in operation, talk to people and get a general feel of the nightlife atmosphere.”
The taxi marshals’ primary responsibilities are to:
- offer a safe waiting area until a taxi arrives,
- have a link to taxi companies and drivers
- have a direct link to the police.
People can go to the supervised taxi collection point of their choice, give the taxi marshal their name and destination, and can then wait in safety until their allocated taxi arrives.
The project has been developed by Wolverhampton City Council, the City Centre Company, West Midlands Police and Knightsafe24 (the city centre licensee forum).
For more information on the scheme visit www.wolverhamptoncity.co.uk
Issued by the press office.