Taxi marshals will be on the streets of Caerphilly over the next four weeks to make sure revellers get home safely.
As of tonight, Friday May 29, two marshals will be in Caerphilly town from midnight until 3am on a Friday and Saturday night to direct the public to a new trial taxi rank at the bus station.
Since December 19 last year, the taxi rank outside the Irish Tymes pub has been suspended from midnight until 4am every Friday and Saturday, where it moved to the bus station for that period
Authorities say the new taxi marshals will help prevent people getting into unlicensed taxis.
The trial, which has been funded through the Safer Caerphilly Community Safety Partnership, has reportedly been welcomed by local taxi drivers.
Cllr Nigel George, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Public Protection, said: “The experimental relocation of the taxi rank in Caerphilly town centre has proven successful in helping to improve the queuing system and in ensuring that everyone out socialising in the town centre at the weekend has a safe, enjoyable night out.
“The taxi marshals will help enhance this further by having a visible presence in the town centre and helping ensure people only use licensed taxis to get home safely.”
Gwent Police Night Time Economy Officer, PC Adam Lang explained: “The use of taxi marshals has proved extremely successful in numerous towns and cities across the UK.
“The marshals will act as a reminder to the public that the rank has moved to Caerphilly Bus Station – they will then supervise the new rank to ensure the safety of the drivers and public. This is part of a bigger piece of work which has involved our partners such as Safer Caerphilly Community Safety Partnership, PubWatch and taxi drivers in Caerphilly town. The experimental traffic order will then be reviewed after the summer period and a decision will be made whether to adopt it or not.”
In recent weeks, the council’s Trading Standards team have received a number of complaints about the number of illegal, unlicensed taxis operating in the area.
I find it incredable that people old enough to drink, old enough to get drunk, and presumambly old enough to `be out on their own` can`t safely use a taxi without guidance and help. God Forbid, and public money being used on this. The organisors and sponsors of this excercise really do need something to occupy their collective minds.
The Caerphilly Safety Partnership should spend our money on issues to do with the low level lawlessness being experienced by residents throughout th town in the evenings, I dont even think they have `studied` or ` considered` those issues.
I find it incredable that people old enough to drink, old enough to get drunk, and presumambly old enough to `be out on their own` can`t safely use a taxi without guidance and help. God Forbid, and public money being used on this. The organisors and sponsors of this excercise really do need something to occupy their collective minds.
The Caerphilly Safety Partnership should spend our money on issues to do with the low level lawlessness being experienced by residents throughout the town in the evenings, I dont even think they have `studied` or ` considered` those issues, certainly there has been no public debate with Councillors like Nigel George or PC Adam Lang,.
A large city with many thousands of rowdy evening revellers benefits from Taxi marshals which help to stop idiots attacking innocent people to steal their black cab….the Caerphilly taxi marshals are simply there to check if a taxi driver is licenced or not, they couldn’t care less about people getting home from a night out.
Paul; You say;- “A large city with many thousands of rowdy evening revellers benefits
from Taxi marshals who help to stop idiots attacking innocent people”, I thought this was the `job` of the police?????? A taxi Marshall has no rights or responsibility whatsoever, particulalry to intervene in incidents of violence on the streets.
Yes you’re right, but the large city that I frequented on a night out introduced taxi marshals to supervise taxi ranks to make sure that idiots did not steal somebodies taxi from them, if things turned bad the police were close by if needed, it was a success and helped to get people home safely. This excercise in Caerphilly is a couple of council jobs worths checking drivers paperwork is in order.
A large city with many thousands of rowdy evening revellers benefits from Taxi marshals who help to stop idiots attacking innocent people to steal their black cab….the Caerphilly taxi marshals are simply there to check if a taxi driver is licenced or not, they couldn’t care less about people getting home from a night out.
Paul; You say;- “A large city with many thousands of rowdy evening revellers benefits
from Taxi marshals who help to stop idiots attacking innocent people”, I thought this was the `job` of the police?????? A taxi Marshall has no rights or responsibility whatsoever, particulalry to intervene in incidents of violence on the streets.
Yes you’re right, but the large city that I frequented on a night out introduced taxi marshals to supervise taxi ranks to make sure that idiots did not steal somebodies taxi from them, if things turned bad the police were close by if needed, it was a success and helped to get people home safely. This excercise in Caerphilly is a couple of council jobs worths checking drivers paperwork is in order.
Really. And who is going to fund this ‘bird brain’ idea, Hopefully the person who implemented it.
You’re going to fund it from the grossly unfair council tax increase, and by closing a few more leisure centres, libraries and public toilets.
Perhaps someone can find out how much Caerphilly CBC ratepayers money is already being spent on the so called `Caerphilly Safety Partnership`,
They already employ a dozon or so individuals who we dress up like a private `Robo Cop` outfit, who walk the steets, ( where? anyone spotted one?) they have little or no authority to do anything on the streets, certainly no more than any other citizen.
There should be an enquiry into what money is spent by this `Partnership` and where the money goes, no-one in Caerphilly Council knows, according to a Freedom of Information Request.
One thing it is spent on is BRAND NEW VANS for these robo-cops to drive around in, they are known as `STREET WARDENS` Vans? the clue I think is in the title, as to the NEED for vans.
Really. And who is going to fund this ‘bird brain’ idea, Hopefully the person who implemented it.
You’re going to fund it from the grossly unfair council tax increase, and by closing a few more leisure centres, libraries and public toilets.
Perhaps someone can find out how much Caerphilly CBC ratepayers money is already being spent on the so called `Caerphilly Safety Partnership`,
They already employ a dozon or so individuals who we dress up like a private `Robo Cop` outfit, who walk the steets, ( where? anyone spotted one?) they have little or no authority to do anything on the streets, certainly no more than any other citizen.
There should be an enquiry into what money is spent by this `Partnership` and where the money goes, no-one in Caerphilly Council knows, according to a Freedom of Information Request.
One thing it is spent on is BRAND NEW VANS for these robo-cops to drive around in, they are known as `STREET WARDENS` Vans? the clue I think is in the title, as to the NEED for vans.
Should be paid for by the pubs who ply the masses with drinks and not the tax payer in my opinion.
Peter, the drunks who normally cause the problems are not usually inebriated on pub alcohol, they buy it from supermarkets and are three sheets to the wind before they set foot in a pub. Levy all supermarkets who sell the booze by all means, the pubs have enough financial difficulties as it is.
Should be paid for by the pubs who ply the masses with drinks and not the tax payer in my opinion.
Peter, the drunks who normally cause the problems are not usually inebriated on pub alcohol, they buy it from supermarkets and are three sheets to the wind before they set foot in a pub. Levy all supermarkets who sell the booze by all means, the pubs have enough financial difficulties as it is.