Just a reminder to the Dundee trade that PH plying for hire goes on everywhere and has done for years.
(This story was probably not in the Dundee edition of the Courier)
Taxi drivers accuse hire firms
TAXI DRIVERS in Kirkcaldy have joined forces in a renewed bid to stop private hire vehicles plying for trade at nights in the town centre.
Members of Kirkcaldy Taxi Owners Association (TOA) issued a complaint to Fife’s regulation and licensing committee yesterday about the alleged practice after claiming that certain individuals working for local private hire firms have been picking up passengers without booking.
Under strict guidelines, a taxi can be hailed in the street or Booked, while private hire cars must only be booked in advance and are not allowed to solicit trade on the streets.
TOA secretary Arthur Wylie called it a “continual problem” and asked the council to intervene.
“Fife Council has always stated a desire for public safety and women’s safety in particular—the TOA feel that this is being seriously undermined and is an incident waiting to happen,” he told councillors.
“Last December our members undertook a survey which highlighted incidents such as five passengers entering a four-seater, cars circling the Town House approaching members of the public and picking up members of the public on the High Street among other areas which were not pre-booked by telephone.
“We have also had reports of hires being stolen by certain vehicles.”
In its complaint, the association alleged drivers of Taxi Central, a Kirkcaldy firm which is predominantly made up of private hire vehicles, were “ranking” in Hunter Street on Thursday and Friday nights between 12.30am and 2am, at the Penny Farthing pub on Saturday nights at around 2am, and in a lay-by outside Harlem nightclub.
However, Mr Wylie stressed taxi owners have a number of concerns about other private hire firms who, they claim, have been breaking the rules.
“These points are not standard procedure by all private hire firms but by certain individuals who can be named,” he added.
Appearing before the committee, Taxi Central operators Bill Dickson and Mike Brown refuted the allegations against their firm and welcomed any evidence of wrong-doing the TOA could produce.
Mr Brown explained his firm uses a computerised system which generates a job number for each hire a driver is tasked with each night, meaning offenders could be traced.
“We don’t condone anyone picking people up off the street and we fully support what’s been said,” he stressed.
“If that is happening, the drivers are effectively stealing from us and all they are doing is hampering our business.
“If we can get times and registrations we can assure you that the people doing it will be shown the door instantly.”
Mr Dickson said, “To pick up a hire without it being pre-booked is against the law and if a driver is found to be breaking the law they will be sacked.”
Committee member Mike Rumney acknowledged the problem but said, “Unless we have something specific to go on, we’re toothless.
“I hope by highlighting this issue, we will not only send a message out to private hire companies that this is unacceptable but also send out the message that if we have specific evidence of specific incidents, we will bring these firms in to account.”
Calling for a “common sense” solution, committee chairman Gerry McMullan suggested representatives of the TOA and Taxi Central should meet to discuss their grievances.
http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2007 ... 9739t0.asp
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