THIRTY residents staged a protest over plans for a new taxi rank in Burnley.

Members of Hebrew Road Neighbourhood Watch Committee staged the demonstration beca-use they fear the proposals for a 24-hour six-car taxi rank would result in an increase in traffic on an already busy road, bringing traffic to "dangerous" levels.

But the owner of the planned rank in Hebrew Road, Duke Bar, defended the plans, saying the taxis would be parked at the rear of Colne Road and would not affect the volume of traffic or parking.

Bernadette Kyriacou, who is chair of the Hebrew Road Neighbour-hood watch committee, runs Pegasus Pets from her home in the road, which is situated next door to the planned taxi rank.

Mrs Kyriacou said the taxi rank could be a safety hazard for local residents in particular the young and old people in the area.

The 39-year-old mother of one, said: "We know there is already traffic problems with the area. There are cars parked all the way up the street and with taxis pulling in and out it will make it busier.

"it's not necessary. There are lots of taxis already in the area and it's really dangerous. Today at the protest you could really see how bad it was.

"If the plans are approved it will be massively more dangerous because the taxis will be then be forced to pull out across a pedestrian crossing."

The rank will be spread over two buildings on opposite sides of the road, with the cars being parked on private land at the rear of Colne Road, according to the applicant.

Sultan Alam, who would be running the proposed taxi rank, said: "I don't see how my cars will increase parking problems because they won't be parking any-where near Hebrew Road.

"It's a main road and I don't think it will affect the traffic."

"They will be parking at the back of Colne Road, where we have an agreement to park up to eight cars in there."

The application will go before Burnley Council at the end of August.