Preston Council propose to put the new ranks in Charnley Street, Lancaster Road, and Lune Street.

Licensing officials hope the new areas, which could be given the go-ahead next Thursday, will help drivers hit by the lost rank spaces outside Preston Station.

The news has been welcomed by the city's cab trade – but drivers say there will still not be enough spaces in the city centre.

Mark Selley, of Preston Hackney Carriage Association, said: "These additional ranks are a step in the right direction, but there are 200 black cabs and there can be 100 at work at once. There's still a shortage of space."

The new rank in Charnley Street would act as a "feeder" to the station rank and also serve the Fishergate Centre. The Lancaster Road rank is close to the market and St John's Centre.

And the new evening rank in Lune Street would serve late-night customers from the nearby pubs, restaurants and bars.

Five ranks which have become disused – in Fox Street, Carlisle Street, Deepdale Road, Great Shaw Street and East View – will be revoked, as will the temporary rank at Corporation Street, created after the spaces at the station were cut by Virgin Trains.

Cabbies went on strike, staged a go-slow protest through the city centre and demanded a meeting with the licensing department to increase the number of ranks after Virgin's action.

If the sub-committee approves the changes, the council will apply to County Hall to change the traffic regulations in the three areas.

>> Vote in our latest web poll