By Nicola Hamilton THE removal of Dunfermline's biggest taxi rank has left revellers trying to flag down taxis on one of the city's main roads after a night out.

Work on the Pilmuir Street car park has meant that a temporary taxi rank has been set up next to the former Bruce Street car park.

But with few or no signs flagging up the new rank, people leaving the city centre at night have been creating a free-for-all on the roads in order to get picked up.

Many taxi drivers have also resorted to parking illegally and picking up outside Carnegie Drive and are refusing to drive into the rank, causing further concern with an increasing number of residents out celebrating and the likes of Black Friday fast approaching.

One female reveller, who was unaware the taxi rank was now situated at the Bruce Street car park, told the Press, "I ended up walking up to towards the post office to get a taxi after I remembered they were no longer picking up from the Pilmuir Street rank.

"But when I asked one of the passing street pastors where I would get a taxi, they told me I would have to walk all the way back to the Thomsons car park.

"I couldn't see any signage for it and it was quite dark walking down there - not the best place for a taxi rank.

"A woman in the queue in front of me even fell in one of the potholes in the car park as she was trying to get into the taxi." Chairman of the West Fife Taxi Owners Association and owner of A1Tch Taxis, John Aitchison, said, "For me it's more an issue for members of the public, although the drivers are having issues with people coming in with their shoes covered in mud - it is in a building site after all. We have been doing the best we can,way things are in the town, but unfortunately we are always the last to be thought of.

"We want to be part of an integrated transport society and it is us that provide a vital service when public transport isn't there, especially at this time of the year." It is understood that the temporary rank will be in place for the next six months, despite suggestions from drivers to bring in a temporary rank closer into the city centre.

Local taxi driver Gary Fraser, who is also a member of the association, added, "The biggest problem is that there is no pavement on one side of Carnegie Drive and that means on a Saturday night there are people wandering around on the road and this could very well lead to accidents.

"The rank across from the Ballroom was well established and is where the majority of people would go to get a taxi and now many are unsure about where to go.

"Many people are also trying to park here, despite it being taxi-only." A representative from Barr Construction told the Press they had initially put up signs directing people from Carnegie Drive to the new rank but due to recent severe weather conditions the signs had blown away.

He said the company intended to put more signs up in time for the busy period ahead.

Susan Hughes, chief executive of Dunfermline Delivers, which is responsible for implementing taxi marshals as one of their initiatives to create a safer environment, said, "The safety of customers in the city centre is our highest priority and Dunfermline's taxi marshals have become an integral part of building a safer evening environment.

"The taxi marshals brought to our attention some concerns they had regarding the temporary taxi rank being used during the Tesco construction.

"As a result Dunfermline Delivers has informed all of the parties involved about these concerns and will be convening an urgent meeting involving Fife Council, Fife Constabulary and Barr Construction, to ensure the safest possible facility is provided for customers, taxi drivers and our marshals.

"It is inevitable that during the construction phase of the new Tesco there will be some disruption and Dunfermline Delivers is focused on working with our partners to minimise the inconvenience to both customers and businesses in Dunfermline." Lead officer of roads management at Fife Council, Ian Jones, said, "Before works began we agreed with the developers and the local taxi association that the former Bruce Street car park would become the temporary taxi rank and this was signposted.

"However, the taxi marshals' report last week highlighted some concerns so we are all meeting again this week along with the police and Dunfermline Delivers to discuss what we might be able to do to improve the situation."