A CLUB owner has answered calls to help tackle the “war zone” of Colchester’s taxi ranks late at night.

Paul Ryan, manager of Liquid/Envy nightclub, in High Street, will allocate one of his door staff as a taxi marshal and may provide more in the future.

Last week, Tony Saunders, chairman of Colchester Hackney Carriage Association, called for marshals to be deployed at the High Street rank on Friday and Saturday nights.

Mr Saunders claimed rowdy revellers were making it increasingly dangerous for drivers, and warned it would not be long before someone got hurt.

Responding to the concerns, Mr Ryan said: “As from last Friday, between midnight and 3am, we have put a taxi marshal there at our expense.

“I know there’s a generalisation that people come into pubs, clubs and bars, drink too much and get thrown out onto the street.

“If there’s going to be a taxi rank in town, wherever it is, there will be people gravitating towards it.

“The rank is opposite the front door of the club. We don’t want to be associated with the bun-fights going on and have no control.”

The company, which provides security at the club, is also going to take part in an accreditation scheme offered by the police, which will see it given greater powers to avert trouble at the rank.

Liquid’s licensing conditions currently require the club to pay towards the NightBus, a free bus which runs around the town to take revellers home.

Mr Ryan is hoping the club’s licence will be reviewed, allowing him to spend the money on marshals and by supporting the SOS Bus, which offers a safe haven for drunk, injured, or vulnerable people.

He added: “The SOS Bus is critical for the town. It takes pressure off the accident and emergency department.

“We would rather give contributions to that and have accredited people out on the streets, than fund the NightBus which no one really uses.”

Licensees funding the marshals will be discussed at tomorrow’s Pub and ClubWatch meeting in the town.