BID funds year round taxi marshals

BID funds year round taxi marshals

Party-goers in our town centre will now be looked after year round by licensed taxi marshals thanks to Southport Business Improvement District.

Starting this weekend and running every Friday and Saturday night and during major events throughout the year, the scheme will employ taxi marshals in high visibility jackets to that provide extra peace of mind to revellers looking to return home by taxi after a night out in our town.

Their role will also be to ensure that only legal and registered hackney carriages and private hire vehicles are operating in the town.  The marshals will also help maintain an orderly queue for the taxis throughout the night meaning that the queues move faster.

The scheme will be funded by the BID working in close partnership with the Council and the police.

Hugh Evans, BID CEO, says: “Taxi marshals are becoming more common place in many towns and cities across the UK.  They have been used successfully in the town on particularly busy nights so we have decided that their continued presence is a priority for us.  They worked very well over the Christmas period and so we have brought them back on a regular basis”

The taxi rank has sometimes been a focal point for disorder as people try to get home. With the introduction of the marshals this assists those people in getting home and reduces instances of disorder that can sometimes flare up at the rank.

The taxi marshals will work closely with pub and club door staff, the Police and CCTV team, and the Street Pastors to help keep our town centre safe and orderly.  They will be linked by radio and body worn cameras.

The BID continues to work with Merseyside Police and other partners, including the Pub Watch committee, to make a night out in Southport safe and friendly.

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