Taxi Driver Online

11:00 - 29 March 2008

Taxi drivers have vowed to keep on protesting against the deregulation of the Hackney carriage licences in Teignbridge.

Up to 60 taxi drivers parked their cars in Teignbridge Council's Newton Abbot head office yesterday for the second day in a row in protest against the de-restriction of Hackney carriage licences.One said: "We expect to do another one on Monday."

Teignbridge Council voted to deregulate the district's Hackney carriage licences but angry drivers have staged mass blockades at the council's headquarters.



The row erupted on Wednesday after Teignbridge Council's regulatory and appeal committee removed restrictions on the amount of Hackney licences allowed to operate in the district.

The authority said de-restricting plates brings it in line with 80 per cent of councils nationwide and encourages a more competitive environment.

But taxi drivers say there is not enough work to go around and the move has devalued their plates.

They held the blockages on Thursday and yesterday and also drove en masse through Newton Abbot's town centre.

Chairman of Teignbridge Hackney and Private Hire Association, Aubrey Pitts said: "People are still not happy. We are prepared to stage more protests until we get this decision overturned.

"We are still seeking legal advice. People's livelihoods are at stake.

"As we have been driving through town, members of the public have been cheering us on. It's good to know that people are behind us."

_________________
Mick Hildreth (07814 032002)
GMB PDB P39 Southern Region Branch Secretary
mick.hildreth@gmbtaxis.org.uk
www.gmbpdb.org.uk