Threat to ban taxi drivers for not parking in ranks in Dundee city centreCouncil chiefs are threatening to ban taxi drivers for indiscriminate parking in Dundee’s city centre.
The licensing department has issued final warnings to four drivers who have been observed parking outwith the rank on Nethergate.
One driver has been told they will face a hearing in relation to their fitness to continue to drive a taxi while the other three have been warned of a similar fate should they be caught again.
Some of those targeted said while they accepted parking in loading bays was not acceptable, they felt they had no choice.
Ron Adamson said: “This is not a new problem.
“It all stems from the fact that there are more than 600 licences available in Dundee, but only facilities for about 300 — 80 of which are in the city centre.
“There are far too many taxis in the city, and while I’m not condoning drivers parking in the loading bay or the bus stops I think a lot of drivers feel they don’t have any choice.”
Another driver, Neil Robertson, said: “This rank is our bread and butter. It is the only rank where we can make money. At most other ranks, you’ll be waiting for almost an hour but here you’ve normally got a fare within 20 minutes.”
He added: You see bus drivers arguing with taxi drivers all the time — it could all be solved with an extension of the rank.
“It is stressful, and I think it is going to put drivers off coming down here, but at the moment there is no other choice.”
A spokesman for Dundee City Council said: “A protocol for dealing with the abuse of bus stops by taxi drivers was agreed by the licensing committee in 2013.
“First offenders are given a warning and second offenders are reported to the licensing subcommittee, which deals with licence breaches.
“A third offence will be reported to the licensing committee with a recommendation the licence is suspended.”
http://www.thecourier.co.uk/news/local/ ... e-1.823430
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