Sheffield station: Road layout to blame for traffic chaos not private hire cars, driver claims

Tariq Nazir said the road layout was the problem, with private hire, black cabs and public cars all using the same entry and exit point.

Mr Nazir said he had been driving for more than 20 years and had seen congestion soar after access in front of the station on Sheaf Street was closed a few years ago.

Now, Cross Turner Street is gridlocked at busy times as all vehicles attempt to use the same small area, he said.

Black cab drivers are refusing to pay for their annual permit from East Midlands Railway, in protest. Meanwhile the government has asked EMR, which manages the station, to “ensure it is dealing with concerns,” vowing to follow up with the operator.

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Mr Nazir spoke out after EMR blamed private hire vehicles for the congestion and a black cab driver suggested they should be moved to a pick up point more than 100m away on Cross Turner Street.

He said: “The main reason passengers pre-book a private hire vehicle is because hackney cab fares are expensive.

“Private hire drivers pick up and drop off thousands of customers each week. A lot are vulnerable, some with disabilities, the elderly, young lone women.

“I have witnessed more beggars, alcoholics, druggies in the area around the station. This can be very intimidating, especially for lone females. I would want to drop my customers at the safest point possible. Wouldn’t you if it was your daughter?”

EMR has said private hire vehicles were breaching a rule which bars them from picking up passengers outside the station.

Only black cabs have the “privilege” of collecting walk-up fares, it said.

But Mr Tariq insisted no private hire driver would risk losing their licence to do that and it would be easy to photograph.

In response to claims it did not enforce traffic rules because it did not want to spend money, an EMR spokesperson said: “We enforce the area as much as resources allow.”

They added: “We have an agreed timeframe to respond to the drivers with some ideas on how we work together to reduce the congestion in the taxi rank. We will also be working alongside other key stakeholders such as Sheffield City Council so we can find the best solution for all.”