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Topic ID 3376

05/02/2008 by Steve

Bircherley Green bollards

What is the point of the bollards that have been put up at the entrance to Bircherley Green? One or both of the locking bollards is always down, defeating the object of installing them in the first place (at Council Taxpayers expence). There's no point in addressing the sorry state of the paving in Bircherley Green until drivers and prevented from [ab]using it as a car park and taxi drivers using it as a taxi rank.


0 replies

Archived Replies

Reply ID 48835

05/02/2008 by Marilyn

I have often wondered why the Taxis are allowed to wait there when the rank is full, I tought it was supposed to be a pedestrian area, very rarely do you find it vehicle free!


Reply ID 48838

05/02/2008 by Ewoowar

They should raise the bollard after the cars have parked there.


Reply ID 48840

05/02/2008 by jez_p

quote:
Originally posted by Marilyn
I have often wondered why the Taxis are allowed to wait there when the rank is full, I tought it was supposed to be a pedestrian area, very rarely do you find it vehicle free!
Because the parking attendants are scared of the taxi drivers. Park your own car there and see how quickly they ticket you [;)]


Reply ID 48841

05/02/2008 by Brockman

quote:
Originally posted by jez_p
quote:
Originally posted by Marilyn
I have often wondered why the Taxis are allowed to wait there when the rank is full, I tought it was supposed to be a pedestrian area, very rarely do you find it vehicle free!
Because the parking attendants are scared of the taxi drivers. Park your own car there and see how quickly they ticket you [;)]
They won't mess with the taxi drivers because they most likely know where they live, and if they ever need a taxi, they'll get ignored. Also, there are many other ways, taxi drivers can make their lives hell... they just aren't worth bothering.


Reply ID 48842

05/02/2008 by Ewoowar

quote:
Originally posted by Brockman
quote:
Originally posted by jez_p
quote:
Originally posted by Marilyn
I have often wondered why the Taxis are allowed to wait there when the rank is full, I tought it was supposed to be a pedestrian area, very rarely do you find it vehicle free!
Because the parking attendants are scared of the taxi drivers. Park your own car there and see how quickly they ticket you [;)]
They won't mess with the taxi drivers because they most likely know where they live, and if they ever need a taxi, they'll get ignored. Also, there are many other ways, taxi drivers can make their lives hell... they just aren't worth bothering.
Many other ways? Taxi drivers can make their lives hell?


Reply ID 48843

05/02/2008 by Moz

quote:
Originally posted by jez_p
quote:
Originally posted by Marilyn
I have often wondered why the Taxis are allowed to wait there when the rank is full, I tought it was supposed to be a pedestrian area, very rarely do you find it vehicle free!
Because the parking attendants are scared of the taxi drivers. Park your own car there and see how quickly they ticket you [;)]
Taxis are not allowed to wait there - they just take the risk in order to get the next free space on the rank, before another taxi gets it. Most taxi drivers get on well with the wardens and will always move on when asked to do so. However, quite a few parking tickets have been issued to taxis, and apparently, wardens have now been authorised to issue tickets to taxis instantly, without waiting.


Reply ID 48845

05/02/2008 by Ewoowar

I understand the taxi driver's situation. It's their livelihood. Perhaps there is a creative way to resolve the situation. Any ideas? Where else could taxis wait?


Reply ID 48846

05/02/2008 by Steve

quote:
Originally posted by Ewoowar
I understand the taxi driver's situation. It's their livelihood. Perhaps there is a creative way to resolve the situation. Any ideas? Where else could taxis wait?
Anywhere where it's legal. I don't think it's too much to ask that taxi drivers respect the law.


Reply ID 48847

05/02/2008 by Ewoowar

Yep.....but given that fact that the relevant powers have failed to provide the taxis with sufficient waiting provision, let's assume they were misguided in their research adn any constructive sugestions from those who know the streets of Hertford could be passed on and perhaps have an impact.


Reply ID 48848

05/02/2008 by Moz

quote:
Originally posted by Steve
quote:
Originally posted by Ewoowar
I understand the taxi driver's situation. It's their livelihood. Perhaps there is a creative way to resolve the situation. Any ideas? Where else could taxis wait?
Anywhere where it's legal. I don't think it's too much to ask that taxi drivers resepct the law.
The taxi drivers request to extend the rank by 2 spaces at the front took 18 months to actually happen! As did the new larger bin by Halfords door(the drivers were fed up with seeing the old bin overflowing). I know 2 wrongs don't make a right, but taxis constantly have to put up with private cars parking - illegally - on their ranks.


Reply ID 48849

05/02/2008 by Ewoowar

quote:
Originally posted by Moz
quote:
Originally posted by Steve
quote:
Originally posted by Ewoowar
I understand the taxi driver's situation. It's their livelihood. Perhaps there is a creative way to resolve the situation. Any ideas? Where else could taxis wait?
Anywhere where it's legal. I don't think it's too much to ask that taxi drivers resepct the law.
The taxi drivers request to extend the rank by 2 spaces at the front took 18 months to actually happen! As did the new larger bin by Halfords door(the drivers were fed up with seeing the old bin overflowing). I know 2 wrongs don't make a right, but taxis constantly have to put up with private cars parking - illegally - on their ranks.
Are members of the public who park in taxi ranks subject to penalties metered by Traffic Wardens/consultants/assistants?


Reply ID 48850

05/02/2008 by Steve

quote:
Originally posted by Ewoowar
Are members of the public who park in taxi ranks subject to penalties metered by Traffic Wardens/consultants/assistants?
IMHO they certainly should be. Taxi ranks are for taxis. Car parks are for cars. Pedestrianised areas are for pedestrians. I do sometimes wonder if there are too many taxis, especially when you see how they queue up and overflow into Bircherley Green sometimes. I'm sure they get plenty of business at the weekend but alot of them seem to be kicking their heels during the day. Anyway, back to topic, why waste OUR money on locking bollards to prevent parking on Bircherley Green and then leave them unlocked all the time?


Reply ID 49629

26/02/2008 by Steve

Credit where credit's due - good to see Morrisons reinstating the paving in Bircherley Green.


Reply ID 49638

26/02/2008 by Ewoowar

quote:
Originally posted by Steve
Credit where credit's due - good to see Morrisons reinstating the paving in Bircherley Green.
Yes. I noticed them starting yesterday and was initially concerned that the hole would be filled with tarmac. It is good to see a like for like repair.


Reply ID 49692

27/02/2008 by Wrapper

People who park in the Taxi rank are lazy so and sos

quote:
Originally posted by Moz
quote:
Originally posted by Steve
quote:
Originally posted by Ewoowar
I understand the taxi driver's situation. It's their livelihood. Perhaps there is a creative way to resolve the situation. Any ideas? Where else could taxis wait?
Anywhere where it's legal. I don't think it's too much to ask that taxi drivers resepct the law.
The taxi drivers request to extend the rank by 2 spaces at the front took 18 months to actually happen! As did the new larger bin by Halfords door(the drivers were fed up with seeing the old bin overflowing). I know 2 wrongs don't make a right, but taxis constantly have to put up with private cars parking - illegally - on their ranks.


Reply ID 49707

27/02/2008 by Dude

quote:
Originally posted by Ewoowar
Yep.....but given that fact that the relevant powers have failed to provide the taxis with sufficient waiting provision.
Every time the taxi's get more space, more taxis turn up. We can't keep adding more spaces. The fact that they are full in the day time does not point to the lack of spaces, it points to a lack of trade. Besides, isn't the Woolpack rank still there (and empty)?


Reply ID 49762

28/02/2008 by Sister

i saw the bollards and the patch up job today! it is horriffic! I could have done a better job! some on e will sue due to a broken limb as the block paving is uneven and loose/wobbly.


Reply ID 49778

28/02/2008 by sloopjohnb

Just to let you know that the keys for the drop down bollards will be distributed shortly to those businesses in the Bircherley Green/Railway Street area that have a need, including emergency services, waste and market. Haven't got a precise date but this will help to prevent the taxis ranking up and help to make it more pedestrian friendly. Both of which were what I hoped could be achieved with those bollards back in 2005 when I first mentioned the problems at the Hertford Transport Forum. One thing I have learned is that the earth moves - but very slowly. Can't do much about the paving though - seems to me worse than the tarmac, but EDF/Morrisons were brought to task by Highways and told to make good their work. When it was first dug up I stood in disbelief with Colin Sykes and Specsavers and then brought this to the attention of all councillors that represent the town centre as well as Officers. So no one can claim they didn't know about it. Unfortunately with the cut backs in the Highways budget it is extremely unlikely that the whole area will be properly re-paved as it needs to be. The policy is one of patching with tarmac so expect to see a run on white paint.


Reply ID 49845

01/03/2008 by Capitalist piglet

quote:
Originally posted by Dude
quote:
Originally posted by Ewoowar
Yep.....but given that fact that the relevant powers have failed to provide the taxis with sufficient waiting provision.
Every time the taxi's get more space, more taxis turn up. We can't keep adding more spaces. The fact that they are full in the day time does not point to the lack of spaces, it points to a lack of trade. Besides, isn't the Woolpack rank still there (and empty)?
Slightly off topic but a cynical part of me suggests that, with the Hertford 1 way system, if you are going to Bengeo/Sele Farm etc you've already clocked up nearly £3 by the time you pass the Woolpack rank......


Reply ID 49847

01/03/2008 by Brockman

quote:
Originally posted by Capitalist piglet
quote:
Originally posted by Dude
quote:
Originally posted by Ewoowar
Yep.....but given that fact that the relevant powers have failed to provide the taxis with sufficient waiting provision.
Every time the taxi's get more space, more taxis turn up. We can't keep adding more spaces. The fact that they are full in the day time does not point to the lack of spaces, it points to a lack of trade. Besides, isn't the Woolpack rank still there (and empty)?
Slightly off topic but a cynical part of me suggests that, with the Hertford 1 way system, if you are going to Bengeo/Sele Farm etc you've already clocked up nearly £3 by the time you pass the Woolpack rank......
Yeah, I noticed that last night. Just shy of £9 to The Ridgeway on Tariff 2. If I'd been able to go from the Woolpack it probably would have been closer to £6-7


Reply ID 49882

03/03/2008 by Joby

quote:
Originally posted by Brockman
Yeah, I noticed that last night. Just shy of £9 to The Ridgeway on Tariff 2. If I'd been able to go from the Woolpack it probably would have been closer to £6-7
Bloody hell - even £6-7 is still a complete rip off. No wonder the taxis are always sat idling during the day.


21 replies