Hundreds back taxi firm in openhours row

The customers signed a petition in support of a bid by Select Taxis for 24 hour opening.

The company has applied to Arun District Council for planning permission to remove a condition imposed on an agreement issued in 1999 which states the office should shut between 11pm and 8am.

The firm's workload has grown to be almost around the clock since its move to premises in Richmond Road eight years ago.

Company secretary Sarah Ide said: 'If we are not able to let anyone in at night, we will have a buzzer system on the front door for them to contact us.

'But that will mean people being on the street outside. We can't control the people there. We woud rather have them in the office where we can keep the noise down.'

She said the firm's location next to the railway station and a pub meant that late night customers of both relied on its 25 drivers to taken them to their destinations.

'Together with the other companies in the town we provide a valuable service to the public, not least the taking home of the less welcome in the earlier hours.

'Forcing us to close at 2300 hours would be a retrograde step and, we feel, not only impair the service we offer but could also lead to more public disorder as people would be wandering the streets at night trying to find taxis,' she explained.

Select Taxis has also applied to the council to remove another restriction imposed with the original planning permission. This forbids passengers from being picked up from outside the office.

But Ms Ide said this was an anomaly. 'All our taxis, together with those of the other companies, are hackney carriages.

'This means they are licensed to pick up and put down passengers anywhere in the district council area.'