Taxi Driver Online

Taxi drivers claim shortage of permits is hitting them in the pocket

A group of Epsom taxi drivers are claiming they are being pushed to the brink of bankruptcy because they are not allowed to pick up fares from the train station. The hackney carriages are usually allowed to pick up fares from anywhere, but Epsom station is a no-go zone for many of the drivers, unless they hold a special permit.

But although eager to obtain the permits, the drivers are being told there is a limit on the number issued - currently 35.

Nick Clark has been a taxi driver for 18 years and began working in Epsom four months ago but is already struggling to make money. "Last week I worked 47 hours and after all my deductions and costs I made £45," he said. "But if I'd been working at the station I could have made £1,500.

"The only other rank in Epsom is at the clock tower. Drivers with station permits get all the fares from the station and then when that closes they come and use the rank which is the only one we can use.

"Most of them are semi-retired and a lot of them are allowed to work at Sutton and Wimbledon as well, so there's never enough cabs at the station. The only people that benefit are the drivers. "If the rank was opened up, passengers wouldn't have to wait an hour for a cab and we could earn a living."

Richard Gough, owner of Epsom Cabs and Cars, employs six drivers but admits they are struggling without the business from the rail station.

He added: "They say they can't give out more permits because of health and safety. The real health and safety issue is young ladies on their own waiting at night at the station for a cab. "When people get off the train they run from the platform down the steps because they know they won't get a cab otherwise."

Epsom and Ewell Council confirmed it wanted the rank opened up for more drivers and met with Southern Rail to try to persuade it to do so. A council spokeswoman said that they had met with Southern representatives in February who said they would make a decision on the matter within two weeks, as the current permits expired last autumn.

A spokeswoman for Southern Rail said: "We are looking at the option of increasing the number of taxi permits available at Epsom station. "We have been in discussions with the local council and Epsom station taxi representatives, current and prospective, on this. We have yet to make a formal decision on this but will do so after due consideration."

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IDFIMH

FFS.

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IDFIMH

If the permits have expired that means there should be a free for all, feck the Southern rail just get in there.

If they wont allow anyone in is there any place outside the station that could be turned into a rank

Whats wrong with the large carpark there, it look empty on the sat map.
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?ie=UTF-8& ... d&z=15&t=m