Kirkcaldy taxi drivers accused after strike
By Claire Warrender
Kirkcaldy taxi drivers have been accused of endangering the public by striking during the pub trade’s busiest night of the week.
They stopped work at 2am on Sunday, claiming a decision by local night spots to lay on free transport between premises was costing them money.
The drivers also refused to take customers between 2 and 2.30 on Friday and Saturday mornings—the time the pubs in question close.
One driver revealed the aim was to hurt the premises involved, but the pubs say the only people they are hurting are members of the public— particularly lone females trying to get home in the dark-and one licensee was so concerned he pledged to take people home in his own car if he had to.
The protest centres on a minibus which for the last year has been ferrying customers from Styx in Victoria Road to Kitty McGuinty’s and Harlem in the town centre. All three establishments are owned by the same company, KE Entertainments.
Taxi driver John Fyfe said he and his colleagues had just got used to that when another company started up a free limousine service between two of its premises.
“They are taking work away from us and the taxi drivers and owners have had enough,” he said.
“We are trying to hurt the pub owners because it’s our bread and butter. Their customers are already complaining that they can’t get taxis at closing time.”
Instead of picking up fares at 2am, the taxis have headed for Kirkcaldy’s railway station where they have sat in the car park and refused to budge.
“It’s only for half an hour at a time but it’s enough to hurt the pubs and for the police to notice and hopefully it will make a difference,” said Mr Fyfe, adding that he was aware of the safety implications but that the taxi drivers had no choice.
Alan Finnegan, licensee at Kitty McGuinty’s, said he was appalled at the action and called on the taxi drivers to reconsider.
He said the minibus was introduced in agreement with the local licensing board to ferry people away from Styx at closing time because it is in a residential area and householders had been complaining about noise.
“It’s a courtesy thing for the people living nearby and it only drops people off at Kitty’s or Harlem. It’s only at closing time and it doesn’t pick up passengers along the way,” he said.
“If they had a grievance they should have discussed it with us. Instead, they are putting the public in danger by having people trying to walk home.
“There is also the issue of someone coming out for a couple of beers, finding themselves unable to get a taxi and deciding to take a risk by driving.”
He said that on Friday morning around 350 customers were left standing on the street looking for a taxi.
“The taxi drivers are not hurting us, they are hurting the public.
“What I’m going to do tonight if I have to is use the minibus to make sure people get home safely, and if I really have to I’ll drive them home in my own car because we can’t have people walking the streets.”
A Fife Council insider said the authority had not been informed of the dispute and expressed “grave concern” for public safety.
Fife Police said they were aware of the protest but declined to comment.
http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2006 ... 0052t0.asp
Login
Register
FAQ
