Taxi marshal pilot programme to launch in York city centre

The York Business Improvement District (BID) is partnering with York Hackney Carriage Association, Guildhall Ward Committee and Dean Court Hotel to launch a taxi marshal service that will operate from the Duncombe Place taxi rank on Friday and Saturday nights, 11pm to 4am. The new programme, which launches this Friday, aims to curb anti-social behaviour and control noise levels in the neighbourhood by using taxi marshals to manage an efficient, orderly queue service and report any activity that requires local authority attention.  The programme will run for 25 weeks with two marshals on duty, both who will be Security Industry Authority (SIA) and first-aid trained and have radio communication with the police and local partners.

Simon Murphy, General Manager, Dean Court Hotel, ‘Our guests and the quality of their experience is our number one priority. With the ongoing concern of noise control outside the hotel’s rooms during the weekend nights, this programme will enable an effective taxi queue service and help our business and neighbouring businesses deliver the very best visit for our customers.’

The York Hackney Carriage Association proposed the taxi marshal project and have been working with the York BID after hearing concerns from both residents and businesses and reviewing similar schemes used in other cities which successfully reduced incidents of anti-social behaviour. The cost to run the programme at Duncombe Place will be sponsored by the BID, Guildhall Ward Committee, York Hackney Carriage Association and Dean Court Hotel.

‘We feel the taxi rank is appropriately placed and should absolutely continue operating, but after years of low-level complaints from local residents and businesses, the committee agreed that the best course of action would be to better manage the queue with people on the ground, ‘ Cllr Janet Looker, who represents Guildhall Ward Committee.

According to Saf Din, Chairman of York Hackney Carriage Association, the Duncombe Place rank contributes to over 50% of weekend business.  As a popular location for many of the city’s residents, the programme is an opportunity to manage the crowds in the queue in a more organised and safer environment. 

Andrew Lowson, Executive Director of the York BID says, ‘By working together, we are able to roll out a programme that works in the best interests of all involved.  The marshals will address matters raised by local businesses, the residents and taxi association and offer a solution that improves a specific area in the BID which we can eventually offer to other taxi ranks throughout the city if necessary.  Overall, this will positively contribute to our commitment, which is shared with the partners, to deliver a vision of a safer York for all who visit, live, work and study here.’