Mr Utting said: "As a local businessman and an ex-copper I wanted to have my own cab company as I got sick of the service of a few taxi drivers.

"They didn't open the door for customers, wouldn't come into the pub and look for them and would take them the long way around just to get more money.

I wonder how long the drivers will continue to open doors and leave the vehicle to look for the punters?

'Our drivers must speak English' - controversy over pub landlord's David Utting's new Cambridge town and gown taxi service



A pub landlord has launched a controversial new 'town and gown' taxi service in Cambridge because he was sick of his punters being ripped off and drivers not speaking English.

Dave Utting, landlord of The Empress in Thoday Street, and The Emperor in Hills Road, launched Town and Gow popn about three months ago and already has 45 taxis on the road and another 15 radios for other drivers.

He is competing for business against a raft of other companies and has come under for accusing other taxi drivers of "overcharging".

Mr Utting said: "As a local businessman and an ex-copper I wanted to have my own cab company as I got sick of the service of a few taxi drivers.

"They didn't open the door for customers, wouldn't come into the pub and look for them and would take them the long way around just to get more money.

"I am sure some taxi drivers in Cambridge are excellent but there are some who are not and I wanted to provide a good service for my customers.

"Business is booming. We are a great service and we are called Town and Gown because we are the townies and we work closely with the colleges with many students and tutors being our customers. The public love the service we provide.

"We only have radios so our drivers must have a good level of English. We have Turkish, Bangladeshi and drivers from all over. They do need to have a good grasp of English."

Paul Bradley, spokesman for Cambridge Hackney Carriage Association, a group behind a Fare Charter Mark to clean up taxis in the city, called on drivers to sign up to the code of conduct.

He said: "Dave has caused a bit of controversy among other taxi drivers. Overcharging is happening and we are making great strides to stop it. I would urge taxi drivers to sign up to our charter so that we can give the people of Cambridge a good, honest service."

The group, which represents almost 200 drivers, has urged drivers to display the 'charter mark' in their vehicle's windows as part of the move to clean up the reputation of city taxis.

The "contract of good conduct" states drivers will at "all times act in a professional manner and be "courteous" to the public at all times.

And it also requires drivers to ensure women travelling alone should be urged to sit in the back of the cab and will be asked if they want the driver to wait for them to reach the door before leaving to ensure they are at their destination safely.

The charter also has strict guidelines about setting charges for out-of-town trips and states journeys anywhere in the city up to four passengers should be on the meter.


Read more: http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/8216-dr ... z3GTyY4WHO

I struggle to believe in 2014 we are licensing drivers without a very good understanding of English.

Too many people trying to be too PC, and it needs to stop.

Understanding punters and conversing with them is a fundamental part of the job.

If applicants haven't got good language skills, send them away until they do.