COUNCILLORS have given the green light to plans for an additional taxi rank in Saltcoats town centre.

North Ayrshire Council’s (NAC) licensing committee met last Wednesday, June 1, to discuss the return of the stance in Hamilton Street, outside The Salt Cot pub, which operated some years ago.

The committee agreed to approve six spaces at the stance, with operating hours of between 6pm and 3am each night.

The Herald reported in March that Saltcoats and Stevenston Labour Councillor, Jim Montgomerie, had approached NAC to ask for the taxi rank to be re-instated.

Cllr Montgomerie said at the time that the additional bays would be a great benefit to the area, particularly at weekends, adding the often overlooked cabbies are an “integral part of our community”.

After the decision was rubber-stumped, Cllr Montgomerie told the Herald: “My understanding is that it is from 6pm until 3am, which is good, but I don’t understand why it is not 24 hours per day.

“I would have preferred this, but I suppose it’s a start.”

SNP Councillor Jean McClung, who is a member of the licensing committee and joined last week’s hearing, also welcomed the move.

She said: “The licensing committee of North Ayrshire Council on Wednesday 1 June 2022 considered a proposal to appoint a new Taxi Stance in Hamilton Street, Saltcoats, outside the “Salt Cot” public house. The committee considered representations made by North Ayrshire Council’s roads department and the public.

“The committee agreed to approve the taxi stance, to operate 6pm to 3am for six spaces.

“NAC roads will now make appropriate alterations to traffic signs and road markings.

“There has not been a taxi stance at this location for at least 14 years.

“There was a stance in Hamilton Street, beside Sainsbury’s, but that was removed in 2015 as it was little used.

“Sainsbury’s allow taxis belonging to a local Taxi Owner’s Association to wait in their car park.

“This is a purely private matter, between Sainsbury’s and the TOA, and has

nothing to do with the council.”

The council also set a date for a consultation with taxi operators ahead of reviewing and fixing new rates.

An update is due to come before the council next

week.