A “taxi marshal” could be employed to crackdown on late-night problems around Nantwich’s taxi rank, police have suggested.
Nantwich officers are hoping to copy a scheme used in Chester and Newcastle-under-Lyme.
Many of the late-night problems in the town centre occur around the taxi rank on Swine Market where scores of often drunken revellers gather.
In one incident at the weekend, a man caused criminal damage to the nearby Nantwich Civic Hall. CCTV images are being used to try and trace him.
Now plans are being discussed to employ at least one ‘taxi marshal’ between 1am and 4am to stop anti-social behaviour.
PC Matt Stonier told Nantwich Town Council: “One of the issues is around the taxi rank, and we are exploring the idea of a taxi marshal.
“We’ve discussed this with landlords and Pubwatch members, and there is concern that violence and problems at the rank is putting people off coming out.
“These licensed premises feel the taxi marshal is a good idea, as do the Street Pastors.
“Newcastle-under-Lyme is a very similar night time economy to Nantwich, they have it in place there and it appears to work very well.”
One issue would be how the taxi marshal scheme would be funded, which would likely run on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
“We may look at licensed premises contributing towards it,” added PC Stonier.
“But that’s back to the night time levy debate.”
The aim would be to employ a qualified doorman between 1am and 4am on the taxi rank to ensure revellers were able to wait and access a taxi safely.
“For the sake of £45 a night on those nights, in my mind it is money well spent.”
Another idea being considered is the use of barriers along Swine Market to keep revellers in order when waiting for taxis.
Source: http://thenantwichnews.co.uk
