A new taxi rank is being introduced at Wilmslow station to help solve the problem with taxis taking up the short stay spaces.
Northern Rail has confirmed that the current short stay bays at Wilmslow station will be converted into 'premier parking bays', costing £8 per day, and a double row taxi rank will be created near the bus station.
Northern Rail spokeswoman Joselyn Rankin said: "Taxis occupying the short stay car parking spaces at Wilmslow station has been a recurring issue for us. As such, Northern Rail is introducing a two-row, permit-only taxi rank to ensure taxis servicing the station do not cause access problems."
At 6.30pm on Wednesday, 5th September, we were informed that taxis were parked in 11 of the station's short stay car park, see photo above, and private cars were abandoned around the edges of the car park creating access problems.
One wilmslow.co.uk reader, who wished to remain anonymous said "It gets very frustrating when all the free short stay spaces are filled with taxis as everyone else has nowhere to park and it ends up with people abandoning their cars all over the car park – in the bus stop spaces, outside the offices etc.
"Wednesday night was particularly annoying - as you'll see from the picture the spaces were predominantly filled with taxis. I was picking my partner up and whilst waiting for him I didn't notice many of the taxis leaving, if anything they seemed to be waiting to move into the taxi rank outside the front of the station when a space became free, rather than just being parked there waiting for pre-arranged fare pickups. This is not the first time it has happened.
"There seems no point having free short stay spaces for customers to use if they are constantly filled with taxis. There were so many private cars abandoned around the edges of the car park there ended up with lots of horns blowing as people were trying to weave their way around the parked cars. I'm not sure it was safe for pedestrians either."
Northern Rail confirmed that have been aware of the problem for some time which is why a new taxi-rank will be introduced shortly.
Speaking about the new rank, Joselyn Rankin said "This will also require the movement of the blue badge bays, and we estimate we should be able to accommodate 15-20 taxis instead of the current 4-6.
"The parking phase will take place shortly and the second phase (the taxi rank) will be when the station improvement works are completed within the next six months.
"These measures have been brought in to increase capacity overall at the car park. Discussions are still being had regarding the drop off/pick up facility. This is to be confirmed."
Have you encountered parkings problems at Wilmslow Station? What do you think about plans to expand the taxi rank and create 'premier parking bays'? Share your views via the comment box below.
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