IT IS with the greatest of disappointment that I note the council recently turned down the proposal, by the Harrogate taxi drivers, to have a taxi rank situated on Parliament Street.

We are led to believe that it was turned down, under the disguise of health and safety.

Health and Safety, my hat. If this council took anything about health and safety on our roads seriously, and not only to serve its own ends of saving money, it would have addressed the issue of Station Parade being used as a Formula One racing track, by clowns who regularly race up it, at what appears to be 80 to 100 mph, then park either at Asda car park, or in the car park just off Station Parade.

Then five minutes later treat all the taxi drivers to another spectacular display of reckless driving.

If the council was that bothered about health and safety it would have observed that the white lines along Station Parade are completely worn out, due to the fact that for the past ten years or thereabouts they have used temporary paint, and not plastic paint that they are supposed to use.

Also, if you expect we taxi drivers to take the council seriously as regards health and safety on the roads, then put some speed ramps on Station Parade to slow the mad clowns down, and maybe save someone's life.

But all that is a different subject. What I would like to point out to the residents of Harrogate is that taxi drivers who work Station Parade taxi rank are trying our level best to give you the very best possible service that we can.

I would most welcome as many points of view as possible through your letters section as to the residents of Harrogate's views. Particularly the younger generation, who frequent the Viper rooms, older persons as well, as this is the proposed site and on the left hand side of the road. Please remember that we, the taxi drivers, are trying to provide as good a service as is conceivably possible, for the residents of Harrogate.