Taxi Driver Online

Does this mean that Caledonian Thistle FC will have their biggest gate ever??

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Brummie Cabbie.

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No Brum, they are holding a rally, the punter in the front is the co driver, CT s, ground is ideal with all the bumps and pot holes and the nice fast bits around the outside

Angry Cabbies May Take More Action

30 June, 2009

Taxi drivers are warning they will stage more public protests if Highland Council refuses to alter its stance and stop issuing new licences.

The move follows a demonstration outside the Town House on Friday where banners proclaiming Inverness's taxi trade was "sinking like the Titanic" were among those held aloft by a band of aggrieved drivers.

Members of the Inverness Taxi and Private Hire Association converged in the city centre to demand the council caps the number of licences being issued.

Placards were waved as horns from passing taxis were sounded in support of the demonstration, which was attended by about 20 drivers in the first hour.

The association claims members are struggling to make a living because there are too many taxis operating in the city, particularly drivers coming in from other areas for peak times.

It has demanded no new licences are granted for the next three years and has also criticised the number of taxi ranks available.

Association chairman Vic Rawlins said its members were putting in longer hours to compensate for the decline in custom and were really suffering.

Private hire company manager Paul Lewis said the protest would be the first of many unless the local authority listened to the drivers.

However, the public display of drivers' discontent appeared to fall on deaf ears at council headquarters in Glenurquhart Road.

A council spokesman reiterated it would not stop issuing new licences because it had to operate one scheme across the whole Highland region, not just the city.

"The council operates one taxi scheme to ensure consistency of charges and conditions of operation," he said. "It cannot accommodate any move towards zoning or capping, which would necessitate a move away from a pan-Highland system to an area system."

He added council officials had met taxi operators to discuss proposals to add an extra 12 ranks to the current 50 in the city centre.

Source; The Inverness Courier (Highlands & Islands Newspaper of the Year)

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Taxis Row Could Leave Revellers Stranded

2nd July, 2009

Revellers could be left stranded on a Saturday night in an escalation of the Inverness taxis row.

Furious cabbies have not ruled out deserting the ranks at a minute's notice on a weekend – if Highland Council still refuses to put a freeze on new licences.

Plans are already in place to bring the city to a standstill with slow-moving taxis blockading streets, after the council and police have been given 28 days' notice in writing.

And on Friday, dozens of taxi drivers protested in Inverness against a cab licensing scheme of unrestricted numbers they claim is putting their livelihoods at risk.

But chairman of the Inverness and Private Hire Association, Vic Rawlins, said a complete "pull-out" could be on the cards if the planned rolling-road block doesn't have enough impact to force the council to take action.

He said: "The protest on Friday was a complete success and the amount of well-wishers who came to shake our hands was really encouraging. It really gave us an indication of the amount of support we had and we are really thankful to all the local businesses for their help and support.

"At the moment I am in the process of filling out all the forms to give the council and the police 28 days' notice in order for the rolling road block to go ahead.

"We really need the council to listen to our pleas, so if the road block is not as effective as we first wanted it to be, further action has not been ruled out."

Mr Rawlins explained talks have taken place between a few taxi drivers, and there was some support for further drastic action.

Inverness and Private Hire Association chairman Vic Rawlins (left) headed the protest over taxi licences. Bobby Nelson

He said: "We are fighting for our livelihood here and if the rolling road block under the section 62 is non-effective then further action could take place and that could mean leaving the ranks at a busy time on the weekend. Talks have taken place."

Mr Rawlins added that he had a meeting with area solicitor for the Highland Council, Donald Somerville, last week which he described as friendly and cordial.

He said: "An additional 12 rank spaces have been identified around the city centre that could be added in addition to the spaces we have got now, which would be welcome.

"Mr Somerville will now take the proposals to Highland Council's transport, environmental and cultural services and we will wait to see what happens there. But as much as extra rank space is welcome, it's a cap on the number of licenses that we want."

Source; highland-news.co.uk

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

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Disagree with other members' views;
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