WHILE it may be applaudable that taxi operators have taken the initiative to increase the number of presentable cabs in the form of black cabs, it is inconceivable that they should be permitted to cause traffic congestion in the centre of Burnley.

The number of them has so increased, as to make the taxi rank on Croft Street inadequate - so much so, that they now wait, on double yellow lines in the lower section of Yorkshire Street, in disabled persons' parking spaces and in parking spaces allocated to ordinary car users.

They are parked around and even across the entrance to the private car park belonging to the Friendly Hotel, and around the entrance/exit to the bus station at Yorkshire Street/Croft Street.

Why have so many cabs been licensed to a relatively small town like Burnley? And why are they permitted to wait in areas allocated to other road users? I believe it is against the law to park within ten feet of any road junction - yet it seems that taxis are exempt in Burnley.

Regarding their numbers, is this perhaps a political ploy to encourage other road users to take a cab rather than drive their own vehicles?

If so, the powers that be might consider the loss of revenue from road fund licences were the general public to give up their cars. Is their eventual aim that of banning private motoring?

As a motorist of approximately 49 years, and latterly a disabled driver, I would find this an infringement of my personal liberty, as I am sure would other motorists - who seem to always be the butt of politicians through ever-increasing costs of road fund licences, ever-decreasing parking spaces, poor road maintenance etc.

JOHN RIVERS, Lower Tentre, Burnley.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.