Taxi Driver Online

ANGRY taxi drivers are threatening “civil disobedience”, including a blockade, unless a row over taxi marshals outside the Princess Selandia floating nightclub is settled.

The hackney carriage drivers in the Taxi Drivers Association in Barrow say private hire firm Barrow Cars, which won a bid to install freephones at its expense on the Selandia, and is using a taxi marshal outside the ship, is allegedly cornering some of the general trade in addition to pre-booked customers.

Barrow Borough Council says its investigations to date have shown no evidence of abuse of the rules by the private hire firm, but its inquiries are ongoing.

Henry Fayyazi, of the Taxi Drivers Association Direct Action Committee, claimed some nightclubbers getting into taxis had been approached by the marshal and told he could find them a cheaper taxi.

Barrow Cars has a sign up showing its fares are cheaper than the flag-down-anywhere hackney cab official rates approved by the town hall.

Mr Fayyazi alleged people were shepherded to one side and stockpiled instead of being allowed to get into the next available cab.

Mr Fayyazi said: “We have never had taxi marshals in Barrow before.

“It is very intimidating and we want it to stop.

“My fear is that someone will lose their temper and lamp him or throw him into the dock.”

A Taxi Drivers Association Direct Action Committee club statement said it was contemplating launching action in the near future unless a solution was found.

It said: “Drivers will boycott the Princess Selandia. They will refuse to take any potential customers to and from the ship over a weekend period. Drivers will also block the entrance to Morrisons car park and practice civil disobedience.”

But Barrow Cars boss Tony Armstrong said his taxi marshals, who wear a marshal’s jacket, only ensure people who had ordered a Barrow’s Cars vehicle got into the right car when it arrived, and not another taxi.

He said the taxi rank in the Morrisons car park was not even unofficial and was, strictly speaking, illegal.

He called on the council to introduce a proper rank system and to help end the taxi wars.

Mr Armstrong said on one occasion an angry taxi driver had driven his car at him but was not prosecuted.

Princess Selandia owner Rick Lucas said: “As far as squabbling among themselves, it is nothing to do with us.”

But if the cab firms with a grouse wanted to sit down, man to man, and talk out the problem he was willing to take part.

He did not think the cab marshal was doing anything wrong. You are talking about a 16-year-old kid helping people to get into the right car.

He said: “I think these people are being a bit trivial talking about blockades.”

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Mick Hildreth (07814 032002)
GMB PDB P39 Southern Region Branch Secretary
mick.hildreth@gmbtaxis.org.uk
www.gmbpdb.org.uk

This marshal is touting and the PH operator is accepting bookings through a tout.

Seems an easy one to counter, just present the facts to the council and debate the matter through.

No need for action, or a committee to discuss the action.

B. Lucky

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"Here's a simple solution. If you don't want to pay more for a premium service then wait in the queue, problem solved".
Skull on TDO

TF pi$$ed on his chips.

It would appear the council have the facts;

Barrow Borough Council says its investigations to date have shown no evidence of abuse of the rules by the private hire firm, but its inquiries are ongoing.

So what's happening must be legal.

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IDFIMH

Or the council are seeking evidence to this activity in order to procecute.

_________________
"Here's a simple solution. If you don't want to pay more for a premium service then wait in the queue, problem solved".
Skull on TDO

TF pi$$ed on his chips.