Taxi Driver Online

Council reject Ayr taxi plea

TAXI drivers in Ayr have been knocked back in their bid to put a cap on the number of licences. They claim the over-supply of taxis in Ayr and Prestwick means that many are working for less than minimum wage.

Now they want a limit to the number of taxis operating and wrote to councillors detailing their plight. But at a special meeting last week, councillors rejected the bid.

Until 2000, the number of taxi vehicles in South Ayrshire was limited to 27 and the council held a waiting list for taxi plates. And taxi drivers say it’s time that procedure was put in place again.

In a letter to the council’s head of legal services, John McGuire, chairman of South Ayrshire Taxi Owners Association, said: “The current policy of non-limitation, together with the economic downturn brought about by massive increases in utilities and the ever increasing cost of fuel, is having a seriously detrimental effect on South Ayrshire’s taxi industry to the extent that some, if not all, independent operators are now working below the minimum wage.”

The letter goes on: “In our discussions with local shopkeepers and publicans, we have been able to establish that the number of daytime shoppers has reduced considerably, while the night time economy has experienced a downturn of at least 25 per cent since the introduction of the no smoking legislation.”

Councillors were told this week that there are currently 135 taxi licences in South Ayrshire and 212 private hire licences. In 2000, in addition to the 27 taxi licences, there were 368 private hire licences. Therefore, as a combined fleet, there are now fewer vehicles on the road.

Councillor Bill Grant said: “We were given a very eloquent presentation by the association. We took everything into consideration and decided not to cap the number of licences. “It would be leaning towards protectionism. Our heart goes out to them and we hope business picks up soon.

“They made a very good case. These are difficult times and there are difficult times ahead for all of us but we felt that to put a cap on the number of taxi licences would have been wrong.”

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IDFIMH

So the world didn't end?

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IDFIMH

Interesting

12% drop or 48 fewer vehicles under delimitation.

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

Yeah but that's a small Scottish town, on the upside at least they are intelligent enough to know not to flog a dead horse, especially to the tune of 30k.