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For a Hackney in Chelmsford, the main body of work which a hackney wouldn't want to be without, is the Station Rank, which is owned by National Express Group. Apart from one other stand in the town-centre which is useful, not a great fortune is made from flags. Thus, the advantage of a Hack over a P/h in Chelmsford is not all that, if you dont have a station rank sticker.
I would therefore question the value of a Chelmsford plate being £20,000 (which I know they change hands for).
As Yorkie correctly pointed out above, there is a big swing towards big company operators. Add to that, that First group is the biggest taxi owner in the UK, and that NEG has been making noises in that direction also, and the problem that then becomes apparent, is that we will have a market in which the train operator owns the franchise for the station, also owns the rank, and can also thus own the taxis working from it.
Couple that with delimitation, and I think it will be true to say that the one man owner operator is, quickly going to become a thing of the past. Big business is WITH us in the taxi trade, and likely to become more so. If we cannot compete effectively on an individual basis (and there will be rural situations where one can), then the only effective path I see, is for the small operators to group and run themselves under an association umbrella, radio office an all. I cant see many other alternatives.
We may well be taken over by TaxiBus (although First, NEG and Arriva are also names that are potentials), and, if and when that happens we can either retire, or think of something else. Best however, if we form together in our areas to make ourselves big companies (or co-ops) first.
Frankly, I dont consider TaxiBus to be an enemy. They are a first class operation, skilfully run, and represent serious competition. But we do compete on a daily basis, and we do make a living.
In fact, I think Group TaxiBus have actually built the customer base and that since about 1985, they have caused a growth in the area that has been quite substantial compared to other areas. Certainly they have given us more customers by growing the overall market.
They try new things, some work, some dont, and they do not bow down to the Council, when the Council are being silly. Luckily, I think we have a halfway decent Council at the moment.
Well, we shall see.
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There is Significant Unmet Demand for my Opinion.
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