Successful taxi marshalling scheme to continue

Shropshire Council has secured funding from the Shropshire Partnership to enable taxi marshall schemes in Oswestry and Shrewsbury to continue until the end of 2011.

Taxi marshalling has been a great success in improving public safety and significantly reducing anti-social behaviour in the town centres late at night.  Marshalls offer assistance to customers and provide a safe environment for people to wait for taxis.

The Shrewsbury scheme has been operating in Claremont Bank since March 2010 and is one of a number of initiatives that has been introduced in a bid to reduce late night disorder.

The Oswestry scheme operated throughout December 2010 and the new year period outside of The Wilfred Owen Public House on Willow Street.  It will now start again at the end of May.

West Mercia Police have given their support to both schemes and consider that marshalls have proved to be very professional in organising the allocation of taxis promptly and efficiently.

Licence holders of nearby late night entertainment venues have also praised the schemes, saying the marshalls have helped people leave the town centre as they join the organised queue for taxis rather than mill around, and as a result they are on their way home more quickly.

Councillor Cecilia Motley, Shropshire Council Cabinet member responsible for licensing, said:

“These schemes have been a great success and I’m delighted they will now continue for the rest of the year.  We have had really positive feedback from both business owners and customers about how the marshalls improve public safety, which can only help the night-time economy.”

Marshalls will work on the taxi ranks in Claremont Bank, Shrewsbury and Willow Street, Oswestry from 12.30am until 3.30am in the early hours of Saturday and Sunday mornings up until the end of December 2011.