An end to the taxi “chaos” at Brighton railway station is being demanded.

Councillors on Brighton and Hove City Council’s licensing committee said action must be taken to tackle the problem which has led to tempers flaring in recent weeks.

Jeane Lepper, former Labour chairwoman of the committee, blamed the “greed” of Southern Railway, which issues the £420-a-year permits to use the station.

She said: “It is the greed of people who have issued the permits that has caused the intolerable situation.”

Committee chairwoman Carol Theobald said the area was chock-a-block with cabs, adding: “It is chaos.”

More than 500 permits have been issued for the railway station while only 17 spaces are available.

On some days taxis have been spilling out of the forecourt on to Queen’s Road.

It is believed that more and more cabbies are turning to the station for business as the economic crisis has slashed earnings at other ranks.

Last month angry taxi drivers blocked traffic outside Brighton Station during rush hour after a parking row with police. Drivers held the impromptu strike after a cabbie was ticketed as he waited to get on to the taxi rank.

Talks between the city’s taxi forum, Southern Railway and the council are continuing.

One option being looked at is to allow taxis to queue at the rear of the station.

Andy Cheeseman, of Brighton and Hove City Cabs, said: “As a trade we are working with the other companies and council to try to find a way out of this problem.”

Shelley Atlas, chairwoman of Brighton Line Commuters, said: “If Southern are making money out of the drivers then they have to understand that the drivers will want to use the station.

“They need to look carefully at how to resolve the situation.

Commuters who have been at work all day do not want to come back to a problem at the station.

“Having a second rank at the back could work but we would need to ask members what they think. We would certainly like to be involved and have an input.”

A Southern spokesman said: “Southern meets regularly with the taxi association and, if this is becoming an issue, then the question of permit allocation may well appear on the agenda of our next meeting.”