Taxi Driver Online

BREAKING NEWS: Taxi drivers to stage town centre protest

Grimsby Bugle!


SCORES of taxi drivers are staging a go-slow protest in Grimsby town centre tomorrow.

The North East Lincolnshire Hackney Carriage Association is expecting more than 100 cars to take part - to protest about a lack of taxi rank spaces for drivers.

It is taking place despite assurances by the council that work will be carried out next week.

The protest will begin at the railway station at about 11.30am, and proceed in a figure-of-eight route around Victoria Street and the Town Hall, ending outside the Town Hall at about 3pm.

See the Grimsby Telegraph tomorrow for the full story.

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

He hasn't been up there as well as he?

_________________
IDFIMH

Sounds fishy to me.

Taxi "go-slow" row


A PROTEST led to a heated confrontation between council leader Andrew de Freitas and taxi drivers.

Cabbies brought Grimsby Town Centre to a standstill yesterday in protest at the lack of rank space for taxis in North East Lincolnshire.

This lead to a passionate discussion between Coun de Freitas and Hackney Carriage association chairman Dave Atkin on the Town Hall steps.

As the convoy of taxis drove slowly around Grimsby town centre, hooting their horns, Coun de Freitas emerged from the Town Hall and called the protest a "disgrace" and "irresponsible"

Coun de Freitas said: "I can understand people protesting if they are getting nowhere but, as far as I am aware, the association (Hackney Carriage Association) knew that the contractors are due to start work next week.

"In spite of this, they chose to do what they are doing today, and that is irresponsible."

Mr Atkin said: "We aimed to protest at the lack of space, particularly at the train station, since the closing of the Victoria Street rank.

"Since then, we have spoken to the local ombudsman, who received a letter in October 2007 from the council apologising for the lack of action and claiming work would be done.

"It is now October 2008 and we still have had no action, which is why we chose to protest.

"We tried to inconvenience the public as little as possible as it is not them we are protesting about, it is the council – which is why we protested in Town Hall Square."

The protest lasted only an hour of the planned four hours after Coun de Freitas gave assurances to Mr Atkin that work on taxi ranks would commence next week.

A spokesperson for North East Lincolnshire council said: "We have instructed contractors to carry out works at the station forecourt rank and the Victoria Street rank and, weather permitting, these ranks will be extended early next week."

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Have I missed something here?

They are striking over something that's being sorted next week.

_________________
IDFIMH