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Liverpool's biggest private hire taxi firm today (July 24) won the go-ahead for a trailblazing city centre booking office and waiting lounge.
Alpha Cars’ base will be an historic warehouse in Duke Street, close to Liverpool One.
It will enable passengers to book their private hire car and wait in the safety of an adjoining lounge for their vehicle to pick them up at the front door.
Liverpool City Council's Planning Committee today unaminously approved the plan after council planning officers recommended the go-ahead be given.
The innovative scheme has been devised by veteran taxi operator and owner of Alpha Cars, James Bradley.
Mr Bradley said: "This will be yet another first for Liverpool, a service not yet available in many British cities.
"I have been working on this scheme for some years in response to requests from passengers, and particularly female customers, who want, and deserve, a safe and secure environment.
"Our scheme involves creating a well-run city centre booking office and waiting lounge where there will be a coffee bar, all overseen by extensive closed circuit television. During the evenings registered and experienced security staff will be on duty for added safety and security.
"I am delighted Merseyside Police gave its full backing to this scheme. In the past few years Liverpool has developed leaps and bounds as a tourist city with a thriving evening economy. Simultaneously, the private hire side of the taxi trade has also improved dramatically. This scheme will finally bring the private hire business into the 21st century.
"Additionally it will make a major contribution to greener transport by introducing a central pick-up point, reducing the number of cars circulating in and around the city centre.
"We are a major employer in Liverpool with a fleet of 400 private hire vehicles and we have the most sophisticated GPS (Global Positioning System) available to control and manage our entire fleet.
"Liverpool has been crying out for the kind of facility we want to provide. We aim to start work as quickly as possible".
Mr Bradley's planning consultant and former Liverpool planning officer, Steve Chapman, Managing Director of Liverpool-based Devaplan Ltd said: "This is an exciting and an innovative scheme for Liverpool City Centre. The council's own Unitary Development Plan policies recognise the importance of encouraging the provision of taxi facilities to serve the city centre and following helpful pre application comments from planning officers, and input from highways consultants SCP, our scheme ticks every box for satisfying relevant planning and, highways criteria. I'm sure this operation will set a new high standard in taxi facilities for city centre visitors and shoppers.
"We are delighted council planning officers recommended approval, with the City Council’s Planning Committee adding their own approval at a meeting of the committee on July 24, 2012."
The one-time Victorian warehouse earmarked for the operation has been vacant for some years and its owners say the proposal presents the best chance of bringing it back into productive use.
