'Every second day there's a crime... we just want the trouble to stop'

Taxi drivers are calling for barriers outside Stockport station after claiming to get "daily" abuse from other drivers trying to park at the rank.

Barriers similar to those outside Manchester Piccadilly station are needed to stop other vehicles from blocking areas designated for taxis, drivers say, as well as more traffic warden patrols and CCTV cameras.

Stockport Taxi Association told the Manchester Evening News taxi drivers "don't feel safe" at the station after facing verbal and physical abuse.

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Tauqir Chaudhry, chairman of the association, said: "Every second day we get a crime reference number from the police... damage to our cars and injuries.

"People regularly park their vehicles on the taxi rank [on Station Road], the bus stops, and places where they aren’t allowed, due to this many incidents, which include physical fights, injuries, and damages to vehicles, take place."

Asim Javed is a taxi driver who has been working in Stockport for seven years, and said the problem is often caused by non-taxis trying to find an easy place to pick up friends or family members from the station.

"Sometimes we're about to move off and people are trying to get in and park next to us on the taxi rank," he explained. "It's very dangerous, we just want the trouble to stop.

"We need a traffic warden here every day. It's about safety for drivers and other people who come here."

Mr Javed taxi drivers would be happy if barriers are installed on the road and also on the pavement so customers can queue in a single line.

Waseem Saeed, a taxi driver of 14 years in Stockport, added: "Every driver here has been involved in some incident with other drivers, it happens every day.

"I've had it a few times myself. There has been physical fighting. If they put a camera here people would get tickets and it would stop."

Stockport council said it is reviewing suggestions from the association over safety measures for taxi drivers on the road.

Coun Grace Baynham, the town hall's transport lead, said: "The council takes the safety of Stockport’s taxi drivers very seriously, and we meet regularly with TASK (Stockport Taxi Association) to discuss any concerns they raise.

"We understand the challenges that come with managing traffic around the busy Stockport Exchange area, which serves as a key access point for the train station and other local businesses and, following recent concerns, we have increased enforcement in the area.

"While a taxi-only zone is challenging due to public access needs, we’re reviewing TASK’s suggestions for further improvements. CCTV is already in place, and we encourage drivers to report any incidents to GMP for investigation."

Insp Jason Holmwood, from GMP's Stockport district, said safety for residents and visitors in the town is a "top priority" for the police.

Last month saw the return of Operation Rimini to tackle anti-social behaviour in Stockport town centre, which led to more than 100 charges for various crimes.

Insp Holmwood added: "When we receive reports of threatening behaviour and criminal damage, we endeavour to look at all available information with a view to taking the most appropriate action.

"I would urge anyone who has been affected by such criminality to get in touch with us, as it helps us build an intelligence picture and inform our work going forward."