Taxi Driver Online

Derby Evening Telegraph

July 27, 2006 Thursday

HEADLINE: Cabbies plan three-hour night strike on Saturday

BYLINE: Shaun Warrington and David Walsh

Taxi drivers are exp-ected to boycott Derby city centre on Saturday night. Derby Hackney Union has called for the demonstration against Derby City Council's rules.

Nearly 400 flyers have been distributed urging drivers to leave the city at 11pm and not return until 2am.

Drivers of private hire vehicles are also being encouraged to participate. One annoyance expressed by drivers involves the council's random spot checks. According to the union, these generally take place on Fridays and if a taxi is deemed not roadworthy then it is out of action for the weekend, their busiest time.

Members also want to see a three-year freeze on new taxi licences because, they claim, an increase in numbers has damaged business. In 1986, there were 51 hackney cabs in Derby compared to around 300 now. A union spokesman said: "What else can we do? We don't want to affect the public, but we've got to make a living.

"We really didn't want to go down this road. But we feel it's the last resort. "During a stop check I've had a car fail because it's got 20 stone chips, but how are these a danger to the public?" Drivers are also calling for more taxi ranks, a reduction in licence fees and an independent complaints body so drivers can express concerns.

Taxi driver Tanveer Ahmed said: "We are prepared to strike until something happens, but I don't think the authority will listen to anybody." Many private taxi firms, including Wiltshire Road company Chads Cars, will operate as usual on Saturday, but others remain undecided.

Council spokeswoman Theresa Knight said: "The safety of passengers and drivers is of paramount importance and that is why we regularly carry out spot checks and require medicals. "We have regular discussions with the hackney carriage and private hire trade and have discussed all of these issues with them.

"We urge them not to take any action on Saturday that could disrupt the city centre." A Derbyshire police spokeswoman said: "We would advise anyone who is going out on Saturday night requiring transport home to book a taxi in advance or make other arrangements."
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