Cabbie hits out at port and council for handling of cruise ship …
AN irate taxi driver has hit out at Portland Port and Dorset Council for its handling of coaches transporting cruise ship passengers. (Image: Jenny Rains)
An irate taxi driver has hit out at Portland Port and Dorset Council for its handling of coaches transporting cruise ship passengers.
As reported[1], people in residential Weymouth roads have previously complained about ‘traffic chaos’ in streets used to pick-up and drop-off tourists.
Engine fumes and houses ‘shaking’ have been some of the issues raised by residents, as well as a backlog of traffic which is unable to pass parked coaches safely.
Scores of new visitors have been arriving into the town from Portland Port, where several large vessels have docked this year, with more expected.
A taxi driver, who did not wish to be named, has now questioned the legality of using residential streets such as Rodwell Avenue and Newtons Road pick-up and drop-off points.
He said that there are several steps which need to be taken to ensure a location is a proper ‘coach stop’ – with these locations not meeting the criteria, he claims.
The cabbie added that there are two locations in Weymouth where coaches can ‘legally’ pick-up and drop-off passengers – at the seafront’s Pavilion car park and Lodmoor Country Park.
“There is various legal criteria for creating a coach stop,” he said.
Queues of people have also been seen to form in the streets in all weathers and there are no facilities to wait for coaches, residents claim.
The taxi driver added that he is also not happy with taxi drivers being moved to the car park behind Brewers Quay car park to pick up passengers.
Taxis were told to use the car park to avoid traffic building up in the streets coaches were using, but the cabbie claims this is not a designated taxi rank.
The Swannery car park has previously been suggested by Weymouth residents as another possible location for coaches to pick up and drop off.
Both Portland Port and Dorset Council said in statements they are ‘continuing to monitor’ the situation.
Story continues
A spokesperson for Portland Port said: “We have contracted a professional traffic management company as requested by Dorset Council to help minimise the impact in the area.
“Our shuttle bus operators have also reconfigured journeys to stagger the arrival of vehicles and limit the number in the road at any one time. We will continue to monitor the situation.”
A Dorset Council spokesperson said: “Portland Port is providing traffic management and taxis are using Brewers Quay car park. We are continuing to monitor the situation.”
References
- ^ As reported (www.dorsetecho.co.uk)