CAB drivers are furious about plans to give Manchester United control over traffic on the road running past the Old Trafford stadium.
If council chiefs approve the proposal, Sir Matt Busby Way – which runs right past the main entrance to Old Trafford – is to be blocked to all motorised traffic between Railway Road and United Road, except for fans driving into the club’s two paid car parks.
Cab drivers fear that giving United control over the road lead to the club charging them for access to taxi ranks outside the ground.
The plans will also cut access for drivers, who want to travel past the stadium between Trafford Park Road and Chester Road.
A closed council meeting discussed the proposals just before Christmas.
It was argued that the plan was still just in its very early stages. But documents seen by Messenger say that the plan could be implemented as early as February.
Paul Brent, a Trafford-based cabbie and chairman of the National Taxi Association, said: “We fought for years to get a decent taxi rank in there. The minute they put that behind closed barriers, they have control over everything.”
But David Acton, councillor for the area and leader of the opposition on Trafford Council, said he could not see a problem with the proposals, as long as a proper consultation took place.
“You have to think about the safety of people,” he said. “There are legitimate reasons for it to be blocked off. It’s a bit similar to a town centre with a lot of pedestrians. There are routes around, and they have a big gyratory up the road.”
No-one from Manchester United was available for comment.