Taxi Driver Online

A NEWPORT taxi driver has said he is “lucky to be alive” after a rock smashed his taxi window while he was behind the wheel.

Lionel Morris, the chairman of Newport Hackney Taxi Driver Association, was driving along Chepstow Road, in Newport, on Monday night, when he heard a loud smash.

He said he initially thought “a car had hit the taxi”. “I swerved because it felt as if another car had hit mine,” said Mr Morris.

The independent taxi driver, who has been in the business for 25 years, said he felt he was “lucky to be alive”.

“They smashed the side window where a passenger could sit,” he added

“I often have passengers sat in that seat - luckily no-one was there this time.

“If the rock had hit my window I could have been killed.

“And what would have happened if I had crashed and hit someone?”

He added: “I’m just thankful that no-one was crossing the road at the time.”

Mr Morris said that “on several occasions” he has had items - notably rocks - thrown at his taxi.

“This is the first time that a window has been smashed,” he said.

“But what was worse is that the same night my taxi was attacked rocks were also thrown at other taxis. It is disgusting.”

Last month, the Argus reported how Newport taxi drivers packed Newport council’s chambers to share their concerns over issues they face - including anti social behaviour.

Mr Morris said: “I may arrange another meeting with other drivers to talk about this.

“But at the moment I’m offering a £50 reward for information which leads to the successful conviction of the culprit.”

A spokeswoman from Gwent Police confirmed damage had been caused to the window of a taxi at approximately 8.20pm.

She added: “An area search was conducted by officers shortly afterwards and enquiries are on-going at this time.

“We are aware of the concerns raised of similar incidents and we would like reassure residents we do take reports of this nature very seriously.


“Anti-social behaviour is a priority for us and we are working with our partners to address this problem.

“A patrol plan is in place for these areas and we have increased visible patrols due to reports of crime and anti-social behaviour.”

If anyone as any information regarding this incident call 101 quoting log: 500 13/02/2017.

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

This has been going on in Zooport for donkeys years! There is only one answer to it.........blank the areas concerned until the locals sort it out -They will know/find out who is responsible once they have no way of going home.......then it will get sorted.

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if you cannot be yourself, then who can you be.

is chepstow road NOT a main road then ?

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

Ahh did not spot that one, you are right, it is a main arterial road. A number of estates branch off of that particular road - estates that normally do the stoning/bricking.

It makes me smile when they say a search was done by officers on a Monday night I was told years ago that due to cuts..........two officers were covering the entire Newport area on a Monday night

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if you cannot be yourself, then who can you be.