Taxi Driver Online

TAXI DRIVERS DEMAND MORE RANKS




ANGRY taxi drivers went on strike to demand more ranks and a chance to compete for customers.


New Hackney carriage drivers claim they are losing 90 per cent of business because they cannot compete for fares at Slough Train Station.


The 16 drivers also feel they are being failed by Slough Borough Council who has not provided more Hackney carriage ranks after the deregulation of licences in 2005.


Younis Rashid is one of the drivers who went on strike on Wednesday in Slough High Street.

He said: “We all invested in new vehicles and took all the exams, but we are being prevented from offering a good service to the people of the town.


“We thought we would be able to pick up fares from anywhere, but we are stuck outside Marks and Spencer getting £4 fares and being squeezed out of business.”


First Great Western has given the contract to operate from the station to the Hackney Carriage Federation, which cannot afford to invite new members to join.


Secretary of the Hackney Carriage Federation, Som Shinh, blames the council.

He said: “They deregulated the number of licenses without creating more ranks. At the time they said there was a need for drivers, but there is not the work.”


The new Hackney carriage drivers can compete for passengers outside Marks and Spencer, The Grove, back of the Observatory and Queensmere and outside Slough Library at weekends.


The drivers chose to sign up for the licence because unlike private hire drivers they can be flagged down and they do not need to wait at their office for a call out.


Cllr Mohammed Aziz joined the protesters to discuss their concerns and now hopes to organise a meeting between all parities.


A spokeswoman for Slough Borough Council said: “The taxi rank at Slough Railway Station is subject to a private contract between First Group and the Slough Hackney Carriage Federation. It is on private property and the council has no power to intervene.


“The council is aware of the lack of other hackney carriage stands and we have already undertaken a study, the results of which recommended more taxi ranks across the borough.


“We are hoping to put these in place as soon as possible which we hope will reduce some of the concerns of the new taxi drivers and help provide a better service for the people of Slough.”


A spokeswoman for First Great Western added: “All stations have a specific contract with a taxi organisation to make sure that are customers are safely able to complete their onward journey and arrive at their destination.”

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

now didn't we predict that this was going to happen after the great free for all??

Roll up, Roll up, its the great plate give away, as many plates as you want but nowhere to stand!

CC

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

That's a new one, "cannot afford".



I wonder why the blame for "Rail station exclusion" should be placed at the door of council? When all they do is license vehicles and drivers? I think Mr Shom Shinh's actions have more to do with greed, than anything the council has done.

I'm always reminded of the T&G policy when it comes to restricting access to the likes of stations and Airports. "Free open Access".

I wonder how many of these individuals are in the T&G or associated to the NTA? And where would they be if either of those two organisations practised the same philosophy as this lot in Slough? I don't suppose this motley crew of democrats are in the NTA. Are they? If they are perhaps they should be thrown out, lets see how they like exclusion?

If I was one of those other cabbies i would find out when the franchise was up for renewal and outbid this organisation. Or alternately ask for a barrier to be put up.

Regards

JD

Let's not forget the ones stopping the increase in station ranking is the trade themselves.

By the hackney federation who cannot afford any new members.

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IDFIMH