Warrington’s hackney taxi drivers parked up and refused to take passengers at 03:10 on Saturday night in protest to the towns largest private hire company’s operating illegally. Warrington hackney drivers claim the private hire company and its drivers are contravening several road traffic laws and taxi laws, example illegally plying for hire, ranking up in view of the public giving the impression they are available for immediate hire, obstruction of the highway and obstructing hackney carriages from accessing taxi ranks concerns have been lodge with the police and the councils licensing officers over the last 2 months about this activity and nothing seems to be done the councils licensing officers were even out on Friday night on enforcement but again failed to enforce the taxi laws and allowed the private hire to continue to operate illegally Warrington’s hackney drivers are now at there wits end as they have to pay for the privilege to rank up and ply for hire 50+ drivers have to meet a host of new licensing conditions (such as, the vehicle must have at least five passenger seats the vehicle must be wheelchair accessible) meaning that these vehicles built to meet these requirements cost between £18,000 for a second hand vehicle to £35,000 for a brand new one whilst the private hire drivers can spend anything from £500 upwards for a vehicle and the towns officials seem allow them to operate as if there hackney carriages this simply cannot be allowed to continue and if it is serious questions will have to be raised such as who is paying who to keep quiet and allowing this illegal activity to continue
