Have your say
We want to hear your views on a proposal to remove the taxi rank on Vaughan Road, Torquay, and re-establish Victoria Parade as the principal harbourside rank.
The consultation is open until 22 November 2026. We welcome feedback from
- residents
- businesses
- visitors
- taxi drivers and operators
- community groups
- other interested stakeholders.
Reasons for introducing the Vaughan Road taxi rank
The Vaughan Road taxi rank was introduced as a temporary measure during the Torquay Harbourside improvement works. Construction activity either displaced existing taxi facilities or made them less accessible.
The improvement works have been completed, and the temporary rank has remained in place for almost 2 years. While it has provided additional taxi provision during this time, it was always intended to be a short-term arrangement.
Our commitment was always to review the rank and consider its removal once the harbourside works were complete.
Reasons for the proposed change
Since the rank was introduced, we have identified a number of operational and community concerns, including:
- Over-ranking and associated enforcement activity.
- Passenger confusion about the location of taxi services.
- Additional pressure on night-time economy taxi marshal resources.
- Concerns about traffic flow and access to the Marina car park.
- Concerns regarding the concentration of vehicles on Vaughan Road.
- Feedback that the temporary arrangement has changed the character and function of the area.
The original reasons for introducing the temporary rank no longer exist because:
- The harbourside improvement works have been completed.
- Improvements have been made to the Victoria Parade taxi rank.
- Alternative taxi ranks remain available at Victoria Parade, Fleet Street and outside the Princess Theatre.
The proposal
We are proposing to:
- Remove the temporary taxi rank on Vaughan Road.
- Re-establish Victoria Parade as the principal harbourside taxi rank.
- Continue to utilise existing ranks at Fleet Street and outside the Princess Theatre.
- Apply "no loading at any time" restrictions to the former rank area, consistent with much of the wider harbourside restricted parking zone.
Drivers would still be able to stop briefly to allow passengers to get in or out of vehicles, provided they do not cause an obstruction. Existing loading restrictions on Palk Street would remain unchanged.
At this stage, we do not intend to remove the existing tarmacked pedestrian path adjacent to Cary Green.
Benefits of the proposal
The proposed changes would:
- Return taxi services to their established and recognised locations.
- Improve clarity for residents and visitors looking for a taxi.
- Support more efficient taxi operations.
- Reduce vehicle concentration on Vaughan Road.
- Improve access to and from the Marina car park.
- Help create a safer, more accessible and welcoming public space.
- Support future activity associated with the restoration of the Pavilion.
What happens next
Following this engagement period, we will review all feedback received. No final decision will be made until responses have been considered.
If the proposal proceeds, the next steps are to
- formally advertise the removal of the relevant Traffic Regulation Order (TRO)
- seek Cabinet approval before the rank could be permanently closed.
The process could take approximately 12 weeks.
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