Taxi Driver Online

Taxi boss slams "weekend warriors"



Boss of Newbury's largest taxi firm says weekend warriors are to blame for trouble at the ranks

WEST Berkshire’s largest cab firm has joined the row over “weekend warrior” drivers.

The Newbury Weekly news recently revealed how the part-time cabbies are being blamed for rising tension on the ranks as council officials consider a cap on the number of Hackney carriages licensed in West Berkshire.

Now popular local cab booking agent, Cabco, has stepped forward to say that imposing a limit is not the answer, and suggested the council should apply more heavy regulation to the quality of vehicles to prevent part-time cabbies flooding into limited taxi-rank space at the weekends.

Currently, there are 196 licensed taxis, most of which operate in Newbury, and only 16 rank spaces in the town centre - creating a squeeze which finally led to a recent punch-up between some cabbies because someone was accused of “poaching from the rank”, according to one driver who asked not to be named.

Operations manager for Cabco, Kevin Archibald, explained that the recession had encouraged “weekend warriors” to licence ropey vehicles for use at the weekends which was putting further strain on the already over-saturated local industry.

Mr Archibald said that the issue was compounded because the recession had not only reduced the number of people taking taxi journeys, but had also encouraged more people to take up cab-driving at the weekends to earn a bit of extra cash.

He said: “What’s happening, particularly at weekends, is that we’re getting a lot of weekend warriors who licence a really cheap vehicle and bring that out on a Friday or Saturday night.”

“The full-time taxi drivers don’t like this.”

As a manger at the largest taxi firm, Mr Archibald said he welcomed a “free-market economy” which would be stifled by a cap, but said that regulating vehicle quality would ensure that only serious cab drivers would make the extra investment to gain a licence - therefor improving the quality of vehicle for the customer as well.

He said: “What we’re asking the council to consider, instead of regulating the number of taxi drivers, is to look at regulating the quality of the vehicle.

I think from a customer’s point of view that’s very important and we’re soon going to have a fantasic new cinema and new shopping centre so we dont want ropey taxis lined up outside.”

West Berkshire Council spokesman, Phil Spray said: “It may be that the recession could be contributing to a fall in demand as people try to save money. This is not supported though by the fact that we have heard from taxi companies who are looking to expand their fleet because they believe there is demand to be met.”

West Berkshire Council's licensing committee will meet next Tuesday to discuss the proposals and consider a cap.

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

I wonder how many of the ropey vehicles driven by weekend warriors work on his system or perhaps I'm being cynical but when it comes to operators money is money isn't

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

unless they were paying £120 fo rthe use of a cabco radio fo rthe weekends i suppose?

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

I recon its a way of regulation through the back door. Chester CC did this[very clever] They dereged but insisted on New Vehicles only to get a HC plate. WAV of course!

Believe me it isn't Smokey, almost 100 did it here, the 23k didn't put any of them off.

Which will possibly be fine until someone comes along and challenges the policy on the grounds of it being unreasonable

CC

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin