Cabbies in Westminster pay less to spend a penny (10/05/2007)

Westminster City Council has provided extra parking bays across the city so cabbies can answer the call of nature in private.

The bays, exclusively for taxi drivers during set hours, have been positioned close to public toilets and pubs and restaurants after cabbies complained they were frequently forced to relieve themselves in alleyways and side roads due to high demand for parking spaces in the West End.

Westminster City Council has rolled out the additional bays as part of a joint initiative with the taxi trade and the Public Carriage Office to reduce the number of taxi drivers urinating in public places.

The drivers can pay just 20p for a 12-minute stop and up to £1 to park for an hour – which is £3 less than standard parking tariffs in some parts of the city.

The new bays have been carefully located in the very heart of Westminster, Regency Street, Bolsover Street and Paddington Street – near shops and public conveniences so taxi drivers can legally stop to answer the call of nature.

The scheme hopes to reduce the number of taxi drivers urinating in public places which believed to be made worse by a lack of spaces where they can legally leave their vehicles.

Cllr Alan Bradley, Westminster City Council Cabinet Member for Street Environment said: "These new parking bays will make a real difference for taxi drivers across Westminster. We have worked closely with the trade and the Public Carriage Office to help identify areas that taxi drivers most need access to, especially public conveniences.

“These first five taxi meter bays, represent just the start of our roll-out of dedicated provision for taxis. We hope this will encourage drivers not to 'spend a penny' antisocially."

Westminster now has 32 taxi meter bays and the council is currently planning to launch more in the city throughout the year.

The bays are to be used by licensed black cab drivers only, but out of the operational hours stated on the meters, residents may use the bays. 

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