This was the opinion of Cr Warren Woodley who is considering an amendment to item 6.3 on tonight’s council business paper proposing to move the taxi rank closer to Kable Ave as well as upgrading the rank in White St.

Cr Woodley said a more workable option would be to have a smaller, three-car rank in Fitzroy St near the National Australia Bank with the main rank on White St near the entrance to City Plaza and the supermarket.

He said most of the dumped shopping trolleys at the current cab rank in Fitzroy St originated from the supermarket and discount department stores on the corner of Peel and White streets. It was therefore logical to have the main rank there.

Cr Woodley said frank discussions with disability support groups opposed to moving the rank away from Fitzroy St had inspired the call for a small rank near the NAB.

He said the bus stop on the western side of Peel St in White St made the option of relocating the taxi rank to outside the plaza even more logical.

“We should have no taxis in the bottom end of Fitzroy St at all,” Cr Woodley said.

“We’ve still got to solve the problem of taxis in what will be a beautiful, unique street,” he said referring to the proposed beautification and upgrade of the block between Peel St and Kable Ave.

Meanwhile a business-operator in the central business district has endorsed Cr Woodley’s proposal.

The business operator, who did not wish to be named, said some enterprises were disadvantaged by the current cab rank and the mess that accumulated while people waited for cabs.

They said it was unfair the taxi operators, who paid no rates to operate from the ranks, could “call the shots”.

Tonight’s recommendation would see the Fitzroy St rank moved to the Kable Ave end of Fitzroy St.