Taxi drivers are told to stop breaking the law
Written by Mr Sussex
A city councillor wants taxi drivers in Worcester to clean up their act - and stop breaking the law while trying to get customers. Coun Dave Clark said the city council is tired of taxis waiting on double yellow lines, waiting on loading bays meant for lorries and parking where they are not supposed to in Broad Street.
Coun Clark, who is chairman of the council licensing committee, also said he wants the profession to organise itself better. He said: "They break the law all the time. On almost any day go by the Cross and you will find them parked by cycle sheds. You also see them by loading bays opposite shops, and also parked illegally on Broad Street.
"Taxi drivers get out their cars to talk to their mates while parked there, leaving their cars running - which is also illegal. "It has gone on for many years, but with all the traffic we have in Worcester now, it's time for them to start obeying the law."
He said the city council has offered to help taxi drivers by giving them advice on how to start up a single body to represent them all. "I find that when we have to deal with taxi drivers, they are not very well organised. Taxi drivers at committee meetings don't talk for all of them," he said. "The trade needs to organise itself democratically so we can have confidence in dealing with them as a group. "We have said we will help and offer advice where we could on setting a group up."
Taxi driver Phil Richards, who has worked in Worcester, 20 years, said: "I think Dave Clark is right and there are already moves to establish such an organisation. "The problem is, the council keeps approving new taxi licenses without any new ranks being provided.
"Taxi drivers provide a service for the public, trying to get people off the streets who are drunk. In the day there are 100 taxi cabs trying to look for spaces and more ranks are needed. It's a two-way thing."
I'll stop pulling up on double yellows to allow disabled / elderly / mums with prams to safely get in and out of the car when the Council provide adequate ranks in convenient locations for me to use these instead. I'll stop picking up drunks when the Police start doing their job and getting them off the streets themselves.
