TAXI drivers have called for a meeting to resolve a dispute over taxi rank provision at a new supermarket.

Taxi cab proprietors last week staged a mass protest outside the new Tesco store in Newton Aycliffe town centre, to protest that the car park did not include a taxi rank, despite it being included in the initial plans.

After a meeting with the store manager, six car parking spaces were set aside for cabs.

But a spokesman later said there were no plans for a rank, either temporary or permanent.

Now cabbies say a dedicated pick-up point outside the store has been reserved for one company, which has the contract to use an in-house freephone facility for customers wanting a taxi. In a letter to Tesco, drivers' spokesman Ivan Denton describes the situation as "untenable, unworkable and just plain unfair".

He says it is clear the number of customers in need of a taxi far outnumber those available through the freephone service.

"We have a situation that could cause some danger and definitely some inconvenience to customers, especially those who use the disabled parking spaces," he said.

"That is because taxis with phone bookings have to park right in front of the store, causing congestion."

He has asked Tesco to arrange a meeting with Sedgefield Borough Council to address all concerns.