Taxi drivers moved on from Temple Mead station, despite permitsSaturday, July 07, 2012Taxi drivers who have paid for permits to work at Temple Meads are being moved on by police due to lack of space to wait outside the station.
The cabbies claim the money from the new £375 permits should be used to accommodate the drivers who pay the fee.
But instead they say they are being restricted from operating – often being moved on as they wait at the end of the queue on double yellow lines to pick up passengers at busy periods.
Train operator First Great Western – which is facing a legal challenge to the new fees – says improvements are needed but will not commit to easing the problem.
Wayne Garland, who has been a Bristol taxi driver for 16 years, said the new fee comes with no benefits.
He told the Post: "We are paying money for nothing. If the station can't supply us with enough spaces then why have they issued so many permits? Temple Meads station is our main income. We have no choice but to buy the permits, but when we come here at the best times we are getting moved along by the authorities.
"We've paid our money and now where are we supposed to go? It just seems as though we are paying the money and getting less work."
The 47-year-old from Totterdown added: "It's just another money making exercise."
Many of the drivers claim that First Great Western promised a "feeder rank" alongside their new permit scheme.
"This hasn't appeared," said Alec Baker, a taxi driver from Knowle who has been on the road for 34 years.
He added: "I've seen a lot of changes over the years but this really takes the biscuit. We are all paying nearly £300 and there's no where to go."
Kenneth Lines, a taxi driver for 40 years from Brislington, said: "The police are turning people away.
"When you have to pay as much money as we do for a permit you expect to be able to park.
"They've asked for all taxi drivers to apply for this permit but they've given out more than there is space available. They're taking money under false pretences.
"They're money grabbing."
The National Taxi Association currently has a legal challenge to the permits, which they say contradict various bylaws.
However, not everyone supports the taxi drivers' stance.
One motorist who regularly picks up a colleague from the station, but asked not to be named, said: "Just getting to the short-stay car park in front of the station can be a nightmare at times. Taxi drivers leave their cabs virtually in the middle of the road – this blocks the road for buses and other vehicles.
"Something needs to be done – taxi drivers aren't the only people who use the station."
First Great Western, which owns Station Approach, told the Post it was reluctant to make any improvements while the dispute is ongoing.
Dan Panes, from the train operator, said: "We acknowledge that there needs to be improvements, but until the judgement is made in the courts we cannot make any promises to improve the situation.
"We maintain that the permits are for hire on our premises. They are not paying to park here."
Source; http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Taxi-dri ... story.html
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