Further to Minute 804 of its meeting held on Thursday, 13th February, 2020, the sub-committee received a report of the Executive Director (Neighbourhoods and Environment) that presented the objections received in response to the statutory consultation for the revocation of the taxi stand outside Southend Hospital on the eastbound carriageway of Prittlewell Chase and the installation of a split taxi stand on the opposite westbound carriageway.

The sub-committee recognised that the relocation of the taxi rank could potentially create a detrimental impact on the residents of the properties fronted by the new split rank.  It also noted the Hospital had confirmed that that works being undertaken on the internal layout of the car parking areas was likely to be completed by summer 2021.  The sub-committee therefore felt that taxi drivers should be instructed to switch off their engines whilst waiting in the rank and not to let their engines idle and that the timing of the rank should be reduced from 8.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m. Furthermore, the situation should be reviewed 3 months after completion of the works being undertaken by the Hospital to the internal layout of the car parking areas.

Resolved:-

1.  That the existing taxi stand on Prittlewell Chase which extends from the end of the zebra crossing zig zags opposite numbers 218-220 Prittlewell Chase heading eastwards for a distance of 78m, be revoked.

2.  That a new taxi stand be appointed on the opposite carriageway on the southwest side of Prittlewell Chase, which allows resident access via drop kerbs this stand will be split into 5 sections and laid out as follows:

From a point 6.7 metres west of the common boundary of Nos. 184 and 186 Prittlewell Chase to a point 7.8 metres west of the common boundary of Nos 186 and 188 Prittlewell Chase.

From a point 3.5 metres west of the common boundary of Nos 180 and 182 Prittlewell Chase to a point 8.6 metres west of the common boundary of Nos 180 and 182 Prittlewell Chase.

From a point 5.1 metres west of the common boundary of Nos 176 and 178 Prittlewell Chase to a point 5.7 metres west of the common boundary of Nos 178 and 180 Prittlewell Chase.

From a point 4 metres west of the common boundary of Nos 172 and 174 Prittlewell Chase to a point 4.9 metres west of the common boundary of Nos 174 and 176 Prittlewell Chase.

From a point 4.9 metres west of the common boundary of Nos 168 and 170 Prittlewell Chase to a point 5.6 metres west of the common boundary of Nos 172 and 170 Prittlewell Chase.

3.  That all sections of the new stand(s) proposed above will operate between 08.00 and 17.00 daily.

4.  That appropriately worded signage be clearly displayed in each of the sections informing taxi drivers to switch off their engines whilst waiting in the rank and not to let their engines idle.

5.  That the situation be reviewed 3 months after completion of the works being undertaken by the Hospital to the internal layout of the car parking areas.