About 1,000 people signed a petition against the rank's closure

About �200,000 is being spent on new lighting, seating, bins and trees in Broad Street, St Helier.

Taxi drivers are worried about where their rank will be put for five months while the work is done and some fear it will not be a temporary measure.

But the politician in charge of the project, says he wants to work with the drivers to find a long-term solution.

There is a compromise and it's got to be reached Senator Philip Ozouf

Public Services president Senator Philip Ozouf says the rank might return to Broad Street, although it may hold fewer taxis.

He said: "I'm not against the taxi drivers having a continued place here in Broad Street.

"But we need to find the place around here they can service the needs of the public and also wait without inconveniencing the general public.

"There is a compromise and it's got to be reached."

In November, more than 1,000 people signed a petition protesting about plans to close the rank at Broad Street and move it to New Street.

The parish of St Helier will spend �80,000 helping regenerate the area, but Constable Simon Crowcroft said he would not be asking rate-payers to foot the bill.

Instead, he said he would be looking for businesses to sponsor looking after the Le Sueur monument.