Partnership working ensures taxi marshals will be on duty over Christmas holidays

TAXI marshals in Barnsley town centre will ensure people get home safely over Christmas and New Year.

Following the success of the taxi marshal scheme last Christmas and the reduction in problems around the Chicago Rock taxi rank, Barnsley Council’s Regulatory Services and South Yorkshire Police have agreed to fund it over the busiest nights this Christmas and New Year.

Taxi marshals, licensing enforcement staff and police officers will be on hand at the Chicago Rock taxi rank on Wellington Street on seven of the busiest nights over the Christmas and New Year period, plus on St Patrick’s Day in March to assist revellers.

Officers will also be erecting additional signage for these busy periods to help revellers with locating the rank and to assist with queuing where necessary.

The dates and times when the taxi marshals will be on duty are:

• Saturday, 12 and Wednesday, 16 December from 11pm until 4am,
• Friday, 18 December from 9pm until 4am,
• Saturday, 26, Sunday, 27 December and New Year’s Eve from 11pm until 4am.

Cllr Charles Wraith, Chairman of the General Licensing Board said: “Once again I welcome the expansion of this scheme which will assist revellers in Barnsley to get home safely over the Christmas period. I would recommend that if partygoers want to use at on these nights they should where possible use the Chicago Rock rank on Wellington Street which will operated by the marshals. 

Finally, I would like to wish a safe, happy and enjoyable Christmas and New Year. Please get home safely.”

ENDS