Two taxi ranks could be removed from Southport town centre to make space for more Blue Badge car parking spaces.
The ranks in line to be removed by Sefton Council are the Troc Rank (the Lord Street service road from London Street to Lord Street) next to Christ Church and the taxi rank on the service road in front of The Vincent Hotel between Market Street and Eastbank Street.
Two local hackney carriage drivers’ groups are objecting to the proposals, with one saying they will seek legal advice if they progress.
The issue will be discussed by councillors on Sefton’s Licensing & Regulatory Committee on Monday 9th March 2026.
A report prepared for the councillors says: “There is a need to increase the provision of Blue Badge parking around the area of Southport Town Hall.
“This is linked to the redevelopment of the Princess Diana Gardens.
“Observations have indicated that the existing Hackney Carriage Stands on Lord Street Service Road (Market Street to Eastbank Street), Southport and Lord Street Service Road (London Street to Lord Street), Southport are little if ever used by Hackney carriages to rank and await passengers.
“The Vincent rank is currently split with the front of the bay being a day time loading bay and evening taxi rank, with the rear of the bay a 24 hour taxi rank.
“The Christ Church rank operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“The outcome of the recently reported survey into the demand for hackney carriages in Sefton was also considered. This gave an estimate of average usage of the various ranks in the borough, it also considered previous usage figures from surveys in 2013, 2019 and 2024.
“For The Vincent rank, average numbers of 130 per week in 2013 and 1 per week in 2019 were estimated and consequently the site was not surveyed in 2024.
“For the Christ Church rank, average numbers of 59 per week in 2013 and 175 per week were estimated in 2019, this had dropped to 6 per week in the most recent survey.
“The suggestion is to revoke both these ranks.
“The Vincent Rank – The front of the bay would remain as a daytime loading bay and would be unrestricted at night. The rear of the bay would become a 24 hour disabled parking bay for one vehicle.
“Christ Church Rank – Would become a 24 hours Disabled Parking Bay for three vehicles
“The proposal was sent to the representatives of the Hackney Carriage Associations in Sefton detailing the background of the proposal and requesting comments.”
The North Sefton Hackney Carriage Drivers Association said: “I was asked to put our objection to this proposal of losing the Troc Rank.
“It is a working rank continually 24-7. It was originally positioned at the central square in line with London Street.
“After the Second World War the rank was moved into the service road where it is today, this was to make room for the new Cenotaph.
“I include a photograph, showing some of the vehicles that were used at that period.
“Since Covid there have been several long periods when there were no new licences Hackney or Private hire being issued by the Council.
“The Council decisions since Covid has had a very serious affect on the hackney and private hire trade When One-Stop Shop at Southport closed with all potential new Hackney and Private hire drivers and present drivers having to do travel to Bootle to process their licences has consequently a long downtime travelling Bootle.
“The consequences of general downturn of business in Sefton means there are now Hackney Carriage Drivers and Proprietors have to put their vehicles onto different Local Private Hire networks and the because of this change this is one of the reasons you don’t see as many vehicles on any of the ranks at any one time.
“In the meantime the rank should be kept in place in anticipation of better times in the future.”
Southport Station Hackney Carriage Association said: “I distributed your proposal email to the members of Southport Station Taxi Association, of which all 35 members are Hackney badge holders in Sefton.
“The feedback I received is of a strong objection to the removal of any more Hackney Ranks.
“I trust the Southport Station Taxi Association’s objection will be lodged and if the matter proceeds further, we will be informed so we can seek legal advice.”
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