April 27, 2021 5.25 pm This story is over 35 months old

Lincoln bookies to be converted into taxi hire office

Planning permission has been approved
Megabet on St Mary's Street in Lincoln is being converted into a private hire taxi office for Direct Cars. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

A bookmakers in Lincoln will be converted into a new taxi booking office for a local firm after plans were approved by City of Lincoln Council.

Direct Cars (Lincoln) Ltd submitted a change of use application for the unit formerly occupied by Megabet on St Mary’s Street in Lincoln, which is currently empty.

Direct Cars currently has a booking office on Silver Street, as well as a garage headquarters on Dixon Street offering services including repairs.

Planning permission for the new office on St Mary’s Street was granted by the city council on April 21 this year.

Back in 2017, Discount Cabs on Monson Street was bought by Direct Cars as part of an ongoing expansion at the time.

The Lincolnite has since been informed that the unit is being leased to a different party.

Ragan Crow, Manager at Direct Cars, said: “Due to the delay from the council, the landlord has leased the property to someone else. This is very disappointing as with St Mary’s Street being the transport hub for Lincoln it would’ve made an ideal location for a private hire booking office.

“I do believe that, had we had the permission granted on April 9 we would’ve been opening this office as planned.

“We will continue to look for a property in this area, as there aren’t any provision for Private Hire within the Lincoln transport hub.”

Direct Cars also plans to reopen its High Street office within the next couple of weeks.