Over 50 taxi drivers and supporters protested in Leeds on Wednesday 10th November against proposals by network Rail and West Yorkshire combined authority to relocate the hackney carriage taxi rank to a space beneath the station.
Kevin Pattison (Chair, Leeds & Wakefield Unite Community)
This is the 3rd protest which was again supported by Leeds and Wakefield Unite Community and the Unite Region.
The campaign is also supported Leeds Access Use-Ability Group, a disabled led campaign group who believe it will discriminate against disabled people and others.
A recent survey by Unite showed that 70% of station users want the rank to remain at ground level.
One of the taxi drivers’ leaders who spoke said they were very disappointed that Leeds city Council had not sided with the drivers and represented their views to Network Rail.
The proposal would rely on an external lift or steps to reach the new taxi rank under the railway line and no longer adjacent to the well-lit entrance.
The external lift at the other end of the station has been out of action in the past. The space under the station, being enclosed, will trap exhaust fumes, damaging the air for taxi drivers and passengers.
Too often decisions are made with only token, box ticking consultation. Labour councillors should engage constructively with Trade Unions and not blindly follow out of touch businesses like Network Rail
Find out more about thre campaign via the hashtag #RankDiscrimination and the campaign Facebook page facebook.com/RankDiscrimination