TAXI marshals are being introduced in Ashley Cross this Christmas following calls for management of the busy rank by worried cabbies.

Two marshals will patrol the rank this December helping revellers get home throughout the busy festive period.

Nightlife in the area is booming with a host of popular bars and eateries – but earlier this year taxi drivers had expressed concern about the crowded taxi rank which they say is often blocked with parked cars.

Local cabbie Steve Jeffrey told the Echo: “It happens every weekend. You’ve got to weave in and out of parked cars. It means you’re doing manoeuvres on what can be a moderately busy road so it’s not good.

“It will eventually cause an accident – it’s a miracle there hasn’t been one already, either for a member of the public or a taxi.”

Richard Cashmore said he had raised the issue repeatedly with Borough of Poole and asked for a taxi marshal to be installed: “Taxis can’t get on to the rank to pick people up so they’re dodging in and out of cars,” he added.

“It’s an accident waiting to happen.”

Poole council had said it was unable to fund a marshal in the current economic climate but would, in the light of the concerns raised, look to improve the facilities, including in-troducing a second taxi rank.

Now Dorset Police Licensing and Borough of Poole Licensing teams have sourced funding from the Safer Poole Partnership for two marshals to control the Ashley Cross rank during December.

Frank Wenzel, licensing manager, Borough of Poole, said: “We want to provide a safe waiting area with a reassuring presence for passengers until their taxi arrives.

“We are pleased to be able to provide this service over the Christmas period as we know that marshals reduce the risk of anti-social behaviour and help people to disperse quickly and safely from the area.” The marshalled rank will operate Friday and Saturday from 11pm through to 3am during December.