CABBIES FEAR TOWN TRAGEDY

TAXI drivers say someone will be killed unless they are given a safer place to park and turn their cars in High Wycombe town centre.

Work is currently underway to pedestrianise the High Street as part of the final phase of the town centre enhancement scheme.

It means as a temporary measure taxi drivers are using one side of the street, outside Argos, as a taxi rank.

But they say turning their cars in such a tight space is dangerous and pedestrians walking across the area are put at risk.

Taxi proprietor Charles Smith, said: "We are supposed to be on the Argos side of the road but the taxi rank is down to about two cars.

"They want us to turn against the traffic and go back out the way we are going in, which means we have to shunt around.

"It's a complete and total mess. We are stuck in the middle and somebody is going to be killed."

He added: "Business has been terribly damaged for us.

"We know eventually it may pick up again but we have got to get the public safety first on this issue."

He said taxi drivers wanted to be moved back into Corporation Street until the work had been completed because it would be safer.

"We've decided we are going to occupy both sides of the High Street outside Argos.

"It's the only way to get the message across to people," he said.

"We're hoping to stop them working until we have a proper place where we can pick people up."

Taxi driver Mohammed Iqbal said: "There is not enough space to park the cars and turn the cars around.

"We're supposed to have at least 14 spaces.

"And people don't know where to come and where to park."

A district council spokesman told Midweek: "The contractor is in very close liaison with the taxi drivers and is making the very best arrangements throughout construction.

"They are doing their best given a difficult situation."

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