Angry taxi drivers and their elderly and disabled customers believe council plans to move a taxi rank as part of a six-month town centre improvement strategy will be a disaster.

Surrey County Council plan to move the taxi rank next to the entrance to the Ashley Centre by the clock tower to outside TK Maxx, just more than 300 feet away.

From February 2010: Public consultation on plans to improve Epsom Town Centre begins

From September 2016: Works on expansive Epsom town centre plan announced for new year

The move is part of Plan E, a package of changes to the town’s road layout starting in January 2017. As part of Plan E the pavement outside Metro Bank would be widened, the signalling at the Spread Eagle junction would be changed, and South Street would be made two-way.

From August 2015: What makes Epsom town centre junction so dangerous?

A spokesman for Surrey County Council, which is leading the works, said moving the taxi rank would make it safer to get into cabs.

Your Local Guardian:

Edward Rose, 71, (second from the right) who has been a cab driver for 46 years, believes moving the taxi rank will be a disaster for him and his customers – especially those who are elderly or disabled.

The majority of his fares are "tiny jobs" in and around Epsom, often transporting people who have finished shopping in the High Street or at the Ashley Centre.

“It’s important that a taxi rank is in the right place,” Mr Rose said.

“All the customers know we are here. This is our bread and butter.

“The elderly and disabled people need the rank here.

“We are here trying to earn a living but the council are just moving us.

Mark Miles, 48, another taxi driver, agrees.

He said: “If we go over the road the public won’t see us.

“I have a lady with Alzheimer’s. I have a lady with MS (multiple sclerosis). They trust me. They only go with me.

“If we move it will be a disaster.”

He added: “They never even asked us about it. They just told us it was going to happen.”

Your Local Guardian:
TK Maxx in Epsom High Street

Betty Kemper, 85, is wheelchair-bound and uses taxis about four times a week to travel between her home in Bucknills Close, Epsom and the town centre.

“It would be more difficult because on the other side of the road there are a lot of busy people and buses,” she explained.

Ms Kemper added: “The drivers are very helpful to people who are elderly and disabled.”

A county council spokesman said: “The new position of the taxi rank will improve safety for pedestrians with pavements in the area being widened while also encouraging visitors to use the whole of the town centre.

“After listening to the views of all town centre users who responded to our consultation, we believe these improvements will secure a successful future for Epsom town centre.”

For more information, visit www.surreycc.gov.uk/epsomhighwayimprovements

What do you think? Get in touch at craig.richard@london.newsquest.co.uk