TAXI drivers have voted unanimously to fight fresh plans to tackle safety concerns with their rank at the Horsefair Bus Station in Wisbech.

The move from Wisbech and District Hackney Carriage Drivers’ Association comes after Fenland District Council’s Cabinet gave the go-ahead to a �53,000 safety scheme.

The scheme includes measures to eliminate reversing taxis, provide a pavement for waiting taxi passengers and restore road signs and lines.

Fenland councillor Dave Patrick, chairman of the association, said the scheme would mean pedestrians would have to cross the road to catch a taxi.

He said: “How can the council expect the elderly and people with trolleys to cross the road several times? You are exposing them to the risks of moving traffic, mainly buses.

“We believe more people are likely to be hurt by crossing that road rather than stepping off a pavement into a taxi.”

Cllr Patrick said no protests are currently planned like those carried out 18 months ago when drivers contested plans to move their rank to outside the Case pub.

He added that he hopes to enter dialogue with the council to resolve the matter.

At last month’s Cabinet meeting a report - produced by Atkins for the council - showed that there had been two accidents causing injuries and five damage-only accidents since 2005. The report said that there was a “risk that a more serious incident involving personal injury will occur”.

Councillor Kit Owen, portfolio holder for shaping Fenland, told the meeting: “The existing situation is unsatisfactory. There is a risk of serious injury and the report says quite clearly that no change is not an option.”