Taxi Driver Online

MP: cabbies should stop wasteful legal action


READING East MP Jane Griffiths is demanding militant taxi drivers abandon High Court action aimed at stopping the council granting 30 new cab licences.

The cabbies dragged the council into court because they believe extra cabs in their ranks will lower standards and destroy their livelihoods.

They are also angry that the council is granting such a large number of licences when an independent report called for "a minimum of eight" new licences for Reading's ranks.

Two weeks ago the drivers claimed a government decision not to deregulate the taxi business strengthened their case.

But now Ms Griffiths has claimed they have got it wrong and limits on the number of cabs produce an inferior service and are bad for customers.

She said: "Any review by the council will see the restrictions on the number of taxis removed, a growth in the number of taxis on the streets, and a better service for customers."

Ms Griffiths added: "I call upon Reading's taxi drivers to end their wasteful legal action against the council and for them to accept the inevitable, that the restrictions on the number of taxis will have to go."

As the case was in the High Court two weeks ago, Reading Taxi Association (RTA) secretary Keith Johnson found Ms Griffiths' outburst hard to understand.

He said: "She is obviously a Labour MP on her way out and she looks to be trying to do as much damage as she can. "I think the council have got to make transport accountable to government, and what they do must be for the benefit of public.

"The council did this by means of a survey and the survey said we needed a minimum of eight more drivers.

"What we need is a public transport system that is regulated, and not open to the whims of everybody - deregulation leads to deterioration."

The drivers are still waiting for Mr Justice Goldring to rule on their case.

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IDFIMH

Another OFT Brainwash

Nuff said.

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IDFIMH

He said: "She is obviously a Labour MP on her way out and she looks to be trying to do as much damage as she can.

Nuff said Tell me Suspect when they deregluted the trains were you a pretend Train Driver? When they deregulated the buses were you a pretend bus driver? Oh forgot to tell you this one Pete Kavanagh has been promoted from the cab section to regional organiser, not bad for a busman is it.

When did they deregukate trains then?

Can I just point out that there is absolutely no action in the world that would reduce the standards in Reading

This was the town a year ago who had to beg the PH's to stop playing by the rules because otherwise they would never clear the town at nights.

The PH's had been warned of prosecution if they were hailed. The whole PH trade said fine, we will go nowhere near the city centre without a booking. 'Oh my god, don't do that' came the unofficial response from Mr Copper, 'we will have serious crap if you lads don't take them away'.

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A member of the Hire or Reward Industry

Nigel, you must be the only person I know that thinks promotion in the T&G is something to be proud of.

Being an official of a union is something that only those that can't hack a real job, aspire too.

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IDFIMH

In Nigel's mind yesterday, today and tomorrow.

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IDFIMH

When privatisation was bought in, we were told there will be more trains that run on time. Where are the trains? Are they running on time?

Clearly the fact that there are more trains running, carrying more people than ever, has missed a few peoples mind.

Lets all think back to those glorious days of BR.

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IDFIMH

that statement is as untrue as Nigels
BR was privatised to cut costs nothing else, that has not been achieved either

1 in 10 trains are very late, indeed the very trains that carry the passengers.

BR failed because of politicians and lack of investment, the new system fails beccause the companies lack of investment.

the trains will not run properly until they are run by transport authorities.

incidentaly has anyone noticed how train companies used to own bus companies? now bus companies own train companies?

Geoff