Taxi Driver Online

A new report says more taxis are needed in Bath - particularly at night.

An investigation on behalf of council officials has concluded that more licences should be issued in the city and that extra space should be found for taxis at the railway station and in Milsom Street.

It also reveals that more than half of taxi drivers felt at risk when working in Bath at night.

The biggest firm in the city, however, says it can see no justification for the issuing of a batch of new licences.

Senior councillor Charles Gerrish will now have to decide whether to accept recommendations from Bath and North East Somerset Council officials, following a survey by consultancy firm Halcrow.

The recommendations from officials are:

* to increase the number of licensed vehicles in Bath from 113 to 122

* to start talks with rail firm First Great Western over an increase in the number of taxis allowed to operate outside Bath Spa station

* to approve a new taxi in the Milsom Street/George Street area

* to consider bringing in more taxi marshalls to police queues at ranks after dark.

Halcrow, which has 18 years of experience in researching the taxi market, said there was evidence of what is called unmet demand.
It said more than half of taxis were hired at ranks, and that the public felt there was a need for more spaces at ranks.

The firm's report said drivers in Bath worked fewer hours at night than the national average, with more than half of them saying they felt unsafe while working at night.

Halcrow - whose investigation was carried out last November - said increasing the gap between day and night fares could encourage more taxi drivers to work after dark, and that boosting the numbers of taxi marshalls might also help.

But John Innerd, chairman of Abbey Taxis, said the economic downturn had brought more drivers onto the streets at night, despite their fears over crime.

"There are loads of drivers who have come out at night because of the recession - they have to if they want to survive.

"I would say that there are enough people working to meet demand at night."

He said the recession had "eaten into" the taxi trade, with many people now regarding taking a taxi as a luxury.

This week's hot weather has also hit the trade badly.
And he claimed the only ranks where drivers could be sure of enough business were those at the railway station and the area around the abbey.
Mr Innerd - whose firm's headquarters were torched by arsonists last year - said the taxi marshalls did a great job.

But he added: "The problem is you never know what's going to happen when you are in the car. It's like Russian roulette - you never know who you're picking up."

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

Don't think current laws give him a choice.

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IDFIMH

He could always take a leaf out of the Reading Councilors books

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