Inverness Taxi Alliance chairman set to step down
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THE chairman of Inverness Taxi Alliance (ITA) has announced he is planning to stand down in April after five years at the head of the trade body.
Andrew MacDonald (75) said he had taken the decision because he was launching two new taxi businesses and he did not want people to perceive this as a conflict of interests.
He added: “You do wonder is it not time to stop and let somebody else have a turn?”
Mr MacDonald said he was planning to step down at the alliance’s annual general meeting in April and was hopeful that would mean he will still be in post when the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman responds to the complaint filed against Highland Council by the ITA.
The complaint covers a number of issues including the removal of the taxi rank at Castle Wynd in Inverness city centre.
Mr MacDonald said: “I will hang on long enough to get a conclusion on that.”
The removal of the rank forms part of a wider £373,515 scheme by the council to redevelop the area around Inverness Castle but the ITA had urged the authority to delay the work until the results of its complaint were published.
Mr MacDonald said he was planning to launch his two new taxi operations in Inverness at the beginning of next month.
The first will be a re-launch of Caley Taxis, which he has taken over from the former operator, and which he is hoping will gain the support of the Inverness club’s players and supporters.
The second will be Black Mercedes Taxis which will be a co-operative of drivers providing high quality service.
Related article: End of the road for Castle Wynd taxi rank in Inverness
