Derby could suffer a huge drop in footfall when Primark moves its current store, hackney cab drivers have warned as they fear it could severely hit their trade.
Several months ago it was announced the clothing retailer would be moving its Derby store from the Cornmarket to the Derbion shopping centre.
The move is expected to be complete sometime next year.
It was a move that Derbion’s managing direction Beth McDonald hailed as a “major and exciting milestone” in November last year.
However, just a short walk away from the existing Cornmarket store is a taxi rank on Victoria Street. This is near to where the Condor apartments are, once the site of a huge Debenhams shop.
Two Derby Hackney taxi drivers – who have been doing the job for decades – have raised concern that the taxi trade could be dealt another blow by the imminent loss of Primark.
Hackney cabs are licensed and regulated by Derby City Council. They can stop and pick up from taxi ranks and can be flagged down in the street – unlike private hire vehicles which usually have to be pre-booked.
The Hackney drivers claim they are already struggling for business due to the rise and demand of Uber vehicles. Hackney drivers can sign up with Uber – but only in major cities such as London, it is reported.
Fazal Hussain, a Derby taxi driver for more than 20 years, said he was worried over the potential impact of Primark’s move.
He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “I think there will be less people coming down Victoria Street. It will be a real shame.
“It shouldn’t be moving – it is a big store and should stay outside. The small shops and us taxi drivers will be struggling here in the future because there will be less people .
“It’s been quiet [Victoria Street} since Debenhams left now with Primark going it will be even quieter. When Debenhams was here we would just pick up and go.”
Fellow Hackney cab driver Mario Colella asked: “Where’s the footfall?” They are building all these flats and they say it’s going to improve the economy. These new flats haven’t.”
Mr Hussain said he had only picked up one customer in the city centre in the space of two and a half hours on Wednesday morning.
Derby City Council says its £200 million Becketwell regeneration scheme – which includes the 259 Condor rental apartments – will “drive renewed confidence in Derby as a place and making a significant contribution to the cultural life and vibrancy of the city”.
Primark opened its first-ever Great Britain store in Babington Lane in Derby in 1974. It’s since relocated twice, first to the former Eagle Centre and then to Cornmarket in 2008.
By Nigel Slater (Local Democracy Reporter)
