Taxi Driver Online

Party season put on ice for region's hard-hit taxi drivers

TAXI drivers in Neath and Port Talbot fear they could soon be driven out of business.

A combination of icy roads, spiralling fuel costs and the recession has left many of them struggling to make a living.

Now they say they may be forced to ask Neath Port Talbot Council to agree an emergency fares rise to help ease the crisis.

Neath Port Talbot Proprietors' Association secretary Bob Hoyles said: "At the moment we cannot get out there because the roads have been so icy.

"Last weekend should have been our busiest of the year but it was dead everywhere because of the weather.

"Wind Street in Swansea and Neath and Port Talbot town centres were empty. There was hardly anyone around. It just didn't happen for us.

"Because of the recession nobody has any money. Taxis have become a luxury so we are out there twiddling our thumbs."

Taxi bosses in Neath Port Talbot have already asked the council if it will put a ban on issuing any more licences, arguing there are too many cabs on the road.

But before the council can do this, a survey must be carried out to show if there is any unmet demand. Because of its budget situation, the authority will not decide whether to pay for a survey until next year.

Now the association may be putting another request before the council.

"Takings are down but our costs are going through the roof," said Mr Hoyles.

"Fuel is now up to £1.30 a litre and I think we will be requesting an emergency fare increase early in the New Year.

"It does not look as if fuel will come down so we will be stuck in a situation where it is increasing all the time."

Mr Hoyles said owner-drivers and company proprietors were having to sit tight and hope matters improved.

He said nobody was interested in buying their cars from them because there was not enough trade around.

"The alternative is the dole," he said. "We cannot look for other jobs because there are no other jobs out there," said Mr Hoyles.

"We know we will be busy around New Year's Eve and then we will have six weeks of doing nothing. It's always the same, but this time it's even worse.

"Drivers who don't own their vehicles are walking away from the trade.

"They are not prepared to work the hours they have to work to make a living.

"My company, Ash Cabs, is struggling to find drivers. They are just not interested in the trade and you cannot really blame them.

"It is not a good trade to be in at the moment."

http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/news/

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

we are getting 5 to 10 times the normal level of calls surely the bad weather is good for trade once the main roads are driveable ?

So the lads in Neath think putting up fares is going to make the trade less dead than it is at present?

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IDFIMH

if they cant stand the heat.......kitchen exit stage left

FFS, for three quarters of the article it reads like this individual is bothered about the taxi trade generally, while the above reveals he's actually just concerned about his own pockets.

Drivers doing nothing apparently, so he wants to make it even worse by recruiting more?

And a fare rise to boot?

Of course, his attitude is not uncommon in the trade, and we wonder why the ranks are clogged up with taxis

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Caledonian Cabbie