Cabbie protest victory
Maxwell Kusi Obodum • Published 24 Apr 2011 12:00
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ANGRY cabbies forced a council u-turn after putting their foot down against a major town centre transport overhaul.
Taxi drivers organised a 60- minute go-slow in Reading town centre from 10am on Tuesday just a day after major road and bus route changes in readiness for the £850m Reading Station upgrade came into force.
The cabbies feel the changes, which include closing Station Road to all but cyclists and pedestrians and introducing contraflow bus lanes westbound in Friar Street and southbound in West Street, have restricted available taxi rank space.
But 20 minutes into their protest organisers called it off after Reading Taxi Drivers' Association chairman Asif Rashid, Reading East MP Rob Wilson, council transport head Pat Baxter and taxi driver councillor Azam Janjua, met in Valpy Street to thrash out a deal for extra spaces outside the station.
The council is also looking at more spaces in Garrard Street and St Mary's Butts.
Council spokes-man Oscar Mortali said: "As with any new scheme, we are continuing to monitor it and making small improvements where necessary."
Mr Wilson said: "With any major changes there are bound to be teething problems - it's important that all sides keep on talking."
For detailed information of traffic flows, call the transport team on 0118 937 3948 or see www.reading.gov.uk/station
This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 22 Apr 11
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