SEVEN new taxi rank sites in Burnley centre are expected to be given the go-ahead by councillors this week.

The Hackney Carriage stands will operate between midnight and 4.30am and are aimed at collecting passengers from local nightspots.

Council officers have stressed that the overnight ranks will not impinge on normal on-street parking in the town centre.

The planning and environment committee will be asked to approve the sites at its meeting on Thursday.

Councillors asked officers to identify more town centre sites after members agreed to more than double the number of Hackney Carriage licences in the town, placing extra pressure on existing ranks.

The proposed sites are at Red Lion Street, outside the Arena night club and outside Lloyds chemists; Ormerod Street, outside Smackwater Jacks; Hargreaves Street, outside the Central Methodist Church, outside Britannia House and outside the General post office and St James Street, outside JB Sports.

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