Taxi Driver Online

I was down in Newport in the sixties when they still mined coal, not a lot there then and I don't suppose its changed that much in 40 years. I doubt very much that there is enough work to go around for the existing cab trade but that's another story.
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February 19, 2008 Tuesday

City cabbies in go-slow demo

South Wales Argus

MORE than 30 black cab taxi drivers joined a go-slow through the city centre, protesting against Newport City Council.

Members of Newport Hackney Drivers Association drove in convoy from the Aldi car park in Malpas Road to the council offices at the Civic Centre on Monday morning, via Newport railway station.

Association chairman Anthony Conibeer said they were protesting against an increase in charges they are required to pay the authority and the potential loss of taxi ranks at Newport bus station.

Mr Conibeer said: "With the re-development we're going to lose half of the bus station ranks, where are we going to go?

"About 40 vehicles use the bus station at the moment, but the council said there's only going to be spaces for 15 afterwards and even that isn't confirmed yet.

"We co-operated with the council when they asked us to buy our own black London cabs but it's been dragging its feet on this for 12 months.

"Black cabs cost between £28,000 to £32,000, but normal people can't afford that so they pay £680 a month, that's a mortgage. It's a struggle."

There are approximately 150 hackney carriage drivers in Newport, and the association represents 100 members.

Alan Connor, vice chairman, said: "Fuel has gone up 28 per cent in the last year, road tax last year was £86 for six months, now its £112.

"The cost of licensing the vehicle has gone up from £105 to £145.

"The council took the old saloons off the road because they were wrecks and we accepted that, but we need to earn enough."

A council spokesman said: "The proposal to increase fees is currently out for public consultation and consideration will be given to any objections received, there has not been an increase in these charges since 2006.

"A report on the trades proposals for a tariff increase was being initially considered by the licensing committee today.

"There will be taxi waiting areas in the new bus station, once work on the facility is completed.

"We are liasing with taxi drivers to identify a location in which to accomodate a waiting area while the construction work is undertaken."
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