Illegal Pick-ups Ruining Taxi Trade In Gloucester
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Taxi drivers in Gloucester claim private hire cabs are stealing their trade.
Drivers from firms in the city believe some private hire taxi drivers are waiting outside clubs and fast food outlets at night illegally picking people up.
One driver, Alan Wood, said: "We are missing out financially and there are safety concerns here too. These cars are illegally parking in the city, particularly on Eastgate Street lately.
"It has to stop, something has to be done. They are taking money out of our pockets."
There are currently 131 hackney licensed taxis in Gloucester but these are outnumbered by the 253 licensed private hire taxis.
Mr Wood said it is up to the firms supplying private hire taxis to stop any drivers doing it as he believes members of the public will just use the nearest vehicle to them.
He said: "The average man on the street will just jump into the nearest taxi, he doesn't care and nor should he.
"But these guys are doing this illegally. They are even asking people if they would like a taxi which is also illegal – you are supposed to sit and wait for the customer."
He added the only licensed city taxis in Gloucester who can pick up a fare are the white cars, anything else is a private hire taxi.
"There is a big difference between the two and people should realise this," he said.
"The other difference is some of these private hire drivers are being brought in from outside the county and don't know the area."
Les Hawkins is the owner of Andy Cars, in Eastgate Street, which has both private taxis and hackney licence drivers said he has noticed a definite decline in trade which he blames on the private hire taxis.
He said: "We have a large waiting room here which used to be bustling, but the customers are getting intercepted before they can reach us now.
"Private hire taxis are picking them off which is affecting our trade massively."
Mr Hawkins believes a radical new measure should be introduced to solve the problems.
He said: "I don't see why they don't put bollards at either end of Eastgate Street on Friday and Saturday nights to pedestrianise it. Then everyone would be happy. They do it in Cardiff and other cities, why not in Gloucester?
"Then these private hires wouldn't be able to intercept our trade illegally like they are currently doing."
Pete Teague has been a private hire taxi driver since last September and he has slammed the actions of some drivers.
"I have heard that some drivers are illegally looking for trade," he said. "They shouldn't be doing it, simple as that. They should be sat by the phone waiting for their trade like the rest of us."
John Eustace, 22, from Gloucester, said he often goes to Liquid Diva, in Eastgate Street, and is not bothered about what taxi he uses to get home.
He said: "I just jump in the nearest one. People don't care when they've had a bit to drink, they'll just use the nearest one."
Daryl Lewis, 19, from Gloucester, said he feels bad for the licensed taxis, but would use the private hires.
He said: "It is bad if these private hire taxis are acting illegally, but when hundreds of people pour out of the clubs on a Friday night, they just want to get home and don't really care who takes them."
Gloucester City Council is responsible for regulating the taxis in the city.
A spokeswoman said: "Licensing enforcement officers carry out regular patrols of the city centre including Eastgate Street.
"Drivers continually breaking the law or behaving in an unacceptable way will be reported to the licensing enforcement committee who may suspend or revoke their licences."
Source; thisisgloucestershire.co.uk
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