Taxi drivers to take on Highland Council over Inverness rank closure
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A move to close a popular city centre taxi rank in Inverness is to be formally challenged.
Chairman of Inverness Taxi Alliance (ITA) Andrew MacDonald said he will be writing to the Scottish public services ombudsman after it was revealed the rank at Castle Wynd in Inverness is to be closed on January 6.
Mr MacDonald shared the closure date online at the weekend after being emailed by Highland Council’s city centre manager David Haas.
“This despite a 3600-signature petition from the public to leave this lifeline rank open,” he said.
“No feasible, safe or workable alternative has been agreed and we were told by a council official that unless we withdrew our objections ‘all offers would be off the table’.”
He said an alternative rank in nearby Bridge Street, lined up to replace Castle Wynd, was originally closed because it was deemed too dangerous and was no better now.
“It is in a deplorable condition, verging on dangerous,” he said.
A Highland Council spokesman yesterday confirmed the closure date for the Castle Wynd rank.
He said: “All parties have been contacted and informed.
“This will allow for the works to improve Castle Wynd to progress so as to deliver an improvement to pedestrian access to the castle which is the subject of plans to create a destination visitor attraction for the city and the Highlands.”
