Taxi rank at risk just weeks after being set up

A taxi rank in Lichfield city centre could be ripped out just weeks after it was officially opened following complaints from traders.

Businesses in Tamworth Street claim they have seen a dramatic slump in sales since the rank in the street opened last month.

Now bosses at Lichfield District Council have decided to cut the rank's six spaces down to two.

They will then monitor its use over the summer, before taking a decision over its long-term future.

Options being considered include making it a night-time-only rank or removing it altogether.

Katherine Jukes, of Tamworth Street-based Katherine Jukes Interiors, welcomed the move. "It's great news," she said.

"I think it will be great for shopper to have the parking spaces back again, and for us to have the space outside our shop back.

"I have never seen a taxi using the rank and I don't think the council gave any thought to the retailers."

The rank was opened in response to pleas from local taxi firms.

Licensing committee chairman Ken Humphreys said: "The proposal was widely accepted, and so we set about the legal process of creating the ranks.

"However, since that time, we realise the pressure for parking spaces within the city has become greater.