Rejected petition Please allow the creation of a new taxi rank on the Buttercross in Newport, Shropshire as the town sorely needs another taxi firm operating.

For the last 6 months I have been working on bringing a new taxi rank to Newport, Shropshire. I'm looking to invest a large amount of money on the project to make sure we bring enough private taxis to cater for Newport's needs.

I have lived in the area all of my life and worked as a local taxi driver for the last 3 years so I know how dire the situation is. There is sometimes over 100 people at the Buttercross waiting for a taxi, so more security and taxis is a must for the future of an ever growing Newport. Another taxi rank with extra vehicles and security can surely only be a good thing.

We have to be based on the ground floor as a high majority of people who will come in the office to book a taxi may well be intoxicated or elderly and you obviously can't expect them to walk up and down a flight of stairs to book a taxi as that's a disaster waiting to happen, so it has to be on the ground floor for the convenience and comfort of the customers.

Thanks, Greg Quinn