Newton Abbot Asda store manager Chris Tilley has assured the town's taxi drivers that: 'Yes, there will be a drop-off area in front of the store'. This was exclusively revealed to this newspaper after taxi drivers in Newton Abbot who use the Market Walk rank were angered that no provision has been made for a rank at the new Asda store in the town. Mike Rocket, who owns Professional Cabs, said that he and fellow drivers think the taxi trade in the Market Walk rank will decrease heavily when the new store opens in August, as many shoppers will be pulled away to the new supermarket. 'When Asda opens, the Market rank is going to be dead, as shoppers won't walk with all their shopping to the Market Walk to catch a taxi. We are a public service,' said Mr Rocket. 'All we want is a place where we can all go and get business. By having a rank there it would benefit Asda and us.' Town Councillor Henry Cole raised the subject at Newton Abbot Town Council meeting last week. 'The taxi drivers are worried that business would die for them if they couldn't stop at Asda to pick up customers,' he said. George Edmonds of Highweek Taxis and his colleagues were concerned that no thought has been given to shoppers who have no transport to get home. 'Old age pensioners won't be able to walk all the way over here (market Walk taxi rank) with their shopping to catch a taxi,' said Mr Edmonds. 'The new store will definitely effect our business. We need a rank at Asda or someone with imagination to bring new stores to Market Walk,' added Dave Cowling of Street Taxis. Jane Lansdowne, also of Highweek Taxis believes that a freephone could be installed in Asda direct to the Market Walk rank and the first driver to pick up the call get the customer. 'We'd all get business that way and it would be fair,' she said. In response, Mr Tilley said: 'I have spoken with Newton Abbot town clerk Rod Tuck about this issue already and have brought it to the attention of Asda store planners at head office. The issue is under review.'
