Taxi Driver Online

Christmas taxi trade in Colchester 'has never been so terrible'

AN experienced taxi driver said the Christmas and new year period had been the quietest in 25 years.

Tony Saunders, chairman of the Colchester Hackney Carriage Association, stayed at home over the festive period to save cash.

He said drivers were giving up because of the declining trade.

Mr Saunders said: “I am starting my 26th year in taxis and it was the worst new year and Christmas ever.

“The majority of drivers would agree it was quieter than most Saturday evenings.

“Firms would have Christmas parties 25 years ago, but there are not a lot of big firms here any more and there aren’t these Christmas parties – a lot of smaller departments go out on their own.”

Mr Saunders said another reason for declining taxi trade was that people were not prepared to pay prices charged by some bars and would rather buy lower priced alcohol from supermarkets.

He said with both Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve falling on Saturday nights, drivers had expected to be busy but were left disappointed.

Mr Saunders said: “The morale has been very low throughout the year because it has been getting slowly worse and there has been a decline in trade.

“People are still finding it tough. The recession is still biting and people are still careful with their money and some people would see a taxi as a luxury.

“It is certainly worrying and some drivers are giving up.

“They are biting the bullet and have got to find something else – you can’t blame them.”

http://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/9455 ... terrible_/

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

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IDFIMH

What?? No wonder he didn't earn anything.

If I remember correctly the last time xmas eve and new years eve fell on a saturday it was not as busy as expected. If you want to earn money you work and you work when customers expect you to be available any experienced cabbie should have a pretty good idea about when those times are

failing that perhaps they should have nipped down the road and worked Wickford train station !

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Christmas and new year eves are always quiet,christmas day and new years day hecktiic,
Well they are up here,
What where they chargig if double is it any wonder

I've been to Colchester.....from Carlisle in one day to watch a football match.......the place is a sh*thole.....worse than Mansfield.

CC

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

Couldn't work that one out initially, but presumably it means he stayed at home to watch Eastenders and Downton Abbey rather than going out on the lash.

Not sure what it has to do with taxis though.

The only time I've been to Colchester was to go to Tesco and they all look the same to me

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

Yes, they're all much the same, which begs the question, why did you travel hundreds of miles for some shopping?

because she's a woman ffs.

CC

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

Cos I get paid to do so

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

I agree.

I have never been to Colchester but I have been to Mansfield. From the above I won't be rushing to visit Colchester.

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Grandad,