Struggling Hackney Carriage Association taxi drivers slam Hassell Street road closure
'NOWHERE TO GO': Hackney Carriage taxis waiting in lower High Street. Above, taxi driver Tariq Mohmood. Pictures: Malcolm Hart
TAXI drivers have hit out at a road closure which they say is damaging their business.
Newcastle Borough Council has temporarily shut Hassell Street as part of a major project to upgrade and relocate the town market.
The work – which will see a new night-time taxi rank on Hassell Street created – began on January 13 and is expected to be completed by mid-April.
However, drivers from the Hackney Carriage Association are angry that the road closure is harming their trade.
They have also slammed private hire taxi firms who park at Newcastle Bus Station, leaving the Hackney Carriage drivers to congregate on a small space on lower High Street.
Chairman of the Hackney Carriage Association Tariq Mahmood said: "It's affecting our business badly to such an extent that our trade has gone from 100 to 30 per cent.
"We have raised the issue of private hire taxi firms with the local authorities as it is something we need to change.
"This problem has been created by the council but the police have actually been very helpful."
Currently, Hackney Carriage taxis can park on Lower High Street from 6am to 6pm, but after that they have nowhere to go. On Fridays and Saturdays, the drivers are allowed to congregate after 11pm to pick up trade over the busy weekend period.
Hackney Carriage taxi driver Abdul Halim said: "The authorities should think about us.
"Business has been badly affected and it's quiet now. The bus station is much more convenient for people to get a taxi from.
"It's very bad. I would say our trade has gone down by half and a lot of money that could have been made isn't being made."
Mr Halim added: "We are really struggling at the moment."
Fellow taxi driver Abid Haziz said cabbies can work for up to nine hours and only make between £20 to £30 pounds.
"Business is so quiet right now," he said. "People who shop in town centre often have heavy bags and they don't want to walk down the High Street to get a cab with us.
"Before the road closure, we used to make a decent amount of money.
"Now though, it's not worth it – especially with fuel costs and financing your own car."
Cabinet member with responsibility for economic development, regeneration and town centres, Councillor Terry Turner, said: "This is the final phase of a very important regeneration project in Newcastle's main town centre.
"The improvements to the borough's historic outdoor market and the surrounding area will help to make sure that it is a vibrant part of the town for years to come and that Newcastle continues to attract visitors and investment."
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