Taxi Driver Online

Job losses spark cabbie rush


SPIRALLING job losses caused by the recession have prompted a surge of new applications for private hire licences in Greater Manchester.

But one industry official is warning potential drivers that the streets are not paved with gold and it is no soft option.

Bryan Roland, general secretary of the Bury-based National Private Hire Association, said: "An average driver is having to work 16 hours a day to earn a reasonable living, and the situation is getting worse as more and more people come into the business."

Manchester council says that by the end of November it had received 577 applications for licences - equalling the total for the previous 12-month period from April to March.

If the trend continues, numbers could be up by 50 per cent on last year.

In Trafford, licence applications have more than doubled. Between January and the end of December 2007 there were just 40 applications. Last year, it was 103.

It is a similar situation in Tameside. From April 2007 to the end of March last year there were 147 new applications. A month ago, the number for this financial year was already 123, with three full months to go.

Salford has received 465 new applications since the start of the financial year last April. In the previous 12 months there were 398.

Stockport says it has seen no appreciable increase, with a steady flow of applications for private hire licences. But it says there has been a three-fold increase since 1992.

Oldham says its figures are relatively stable, and Bolton says it has seen a drop in the number of applications, which up to the end of November totalled 83 compared with 173 during the previous year.

Mr Roland, who worked as a taxi driver for 40 years, said: "It was ever thus. Whenever there is a downturn in the economy and redundancies are rife, people think of turning to driving for a living.

"I would say to anyone considering it that if it keeps you from desperation and county court judgements, go for it. But don't think for one minute it will be an easy living.

"Getting into driving is a big step. You have to pay for a criminal record (CRB) check, a medical, registration, and in Manchester you have to take a knowledge test. You may also have to take a driving test.

"The killer punch for many, however, is getting insurance. It could cost between £2,000-£3,000 if you're someone new to the game - especially working in inner-city areas."

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

It must be going to get busy in the Manchester area

CC

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

lol we must have had a fresh intake of economic migrants but as Brian Roland said, they won't find the streets of Manchester paved with gold. That begs the question where will they try and find work? I think I know the answer to that one.

Regards

JD

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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.

This time last year they could have tried the printworks.....timing is everything I suppose

regards

CC

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

Not long ago the world was going to end because the CRB process was taking too long.

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IDFIMH

They seem to have fixed that.....but apparently the world is still going to end, no pleasing some people I suppose

CC

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