Crack Down On Illegal Parking In Pontypool Taxi Rank

Gwent Police, working with Torfaen council’s licensing team, are cracking down on drivers parked illegally in the taxi rank in Pontypool. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Police officers handed out three tickets and a number of warnings to motorists parked in the rank on Osborne Road following complaints from local taxi drivers. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Taxi drivers pay in excess of £600 for licenses that allow them to operate from the rank but have been unable to use it as it is regularly blocked by private vehicles. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Duncan Smith, chief officer for neighbourhood services, planning and public protection, said: “The taxi rank in Pontypool is regularly blocked by shoppers using it as a convenient parking space in the town centre. This is unfair to taxi drivers who pay as part of their license for the right to use the space, and something we cannot allow to continue. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“There is plenty of alternative free parking available in Pontypool and if drivers are caught parking in the space they will receive a ticket.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​