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In today's Edinburgh Evening News


Threat from private hires drives black cab firms' talks on merger
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Published Date: 25 February 2010

By CHRIS MARSHALL

TWO of the Capital's biggest black cab firms are in talks over a possible merger amid suggestions they are losing ground to the city's private hire trade.
Central Taxis and City Cabs, which between them have around 700 vehicles, are in early discussions, with the threat from the city's minicab trade and rival firm ComCabs said to be looming.

Members of City Cabs, which is run as a co-operative, will
meet next week to discuss setting up a feasibility study.

The firm today said any merger was still "a long way off," but rumours that the two firms are set to join forces are rife.

Les McVey, company secretary for City Cabs, denied that the merger was being discussed.

He said: "We've set up a meeting with members for next week to discuss a feasibility study, but a merger is a long way off.

"There are a variety of reasons for it, but private hire firms have been here for several years. The two companies already work together at the airport, so it makes sense (to look into a merger]."

Last year, the city's black cab firms described a decision by the city council to allow minicabs the right to charge lower fares as a "recipe for disaster".

The move raised objections from Central Taxis and City Cabs, who argued it would lead to "confusion" among passengers.

The city's biggest private hire firm, Edinburgh City Private Hire, won the right to change its meters and undercut its competitors by up to 30 per cent following the ruling by licensing chiefs.

Kevin Woodburn, a director of Edinburgh City Private Hire and the chairman of the Edinburgh Private Hire Association, said the public was "sick of being charged extortionate fares" by Edinburgh's black cab firms.

He said: "I know the council is considering another tariff increase, so we could end up 35-40 per cent cheaper. If the black cab firms see us as a threat and think the best way to resolve that is to merge, then that's up to them."

Councillor Colin Keir, who chairs the council's regulatory committee overseeing the taxi trade, said he was aware of early discussions between the two firms, but said it was not a concern.

_________________
Skull, "You are a police inspector, aren't you?"
Cab Inspector Smith, "Yes."
Skull, "So, are you going to tell Mr Taylor what his rights are?"
Smith, "And ... What rights?"

[quote="Jasbar"]In today's Edinburgh Evening News


Threat from private hires drives black cab firms' talks on merger
Premium Article !


Published Date: 25 February 2010

By CHRIS MARSHALL

TWO of the Capital's biggest black cab firms are in talks over a possible merger amid suggestions they are losing ground to the city's private hire trade.
Central Taxis and City Cabs, which between them have around 700 vehicles, are in early discussions, with the threat from the city's minicab trade and rival firm ComCabs said to be looming.

Members of City Cabs, which is run as a co-operative, will
meet next week to discuss setting up a feasibility study.

The firm today said any merger was still "a long way off," but rumours that the two firms are set to join forces are rife.

Les McVey, company secretary for City Cabs, denied that the merger was being discussed.

He said: "We've set up a meeting with members for next week to discuss a feasibility study, but a merger is a long way off.

"There are a variety of reasons for it, but private hire firms have been here for several years. The two companies already work together at the airport, so it makes sense (to look into a merger]."

Last year, the city's black cab firms described a decision by the city council to allow minicabs the right to charge lower fares as a "recipe for disaster".

The move raised objections from Central Taxis and City Cabs, who argued it would lead to "confusion" among passengers.
its place on the battlefield.

There is not a better way to tell all of our customers that we're expensive and we're ripping them off - by up to a whopping 30%. And to help protect us while we roger them, we're gonna merge into a bigger co-operative so that we can use our greater clout to roger them even more.

That's what McVey told the customers. This is excellent PR for ECPH.

McVey has just made it harder for all of us, streetcars included.

As for Keir, his restriction has allowed the unfettered growth of PH to the point where it is no longer embryonic, it's now been born and is developing into the warrior that is going to slaughter us.

Rather than allow market forces to grow our trade, the restriction has fed all of the market's expansion needs into PH.

The trade barons have destroyed this trade with their amateurish commercial ineptness. Tinkering to suit their own greed has brought us to the brink of destruction.

If I were a customer of either of these two stupid companies, with their stupid memberships for allowing the scum to destroy the trade, I would be looking for a hefty contract price reduction after reading this.

And who's gonna have to pay for this, the stupid members.

Travis Gladstone, Dougie and the host of other sycophantic asswedgies - this is your doing too. You can share the responsibility for massaging the egos of the vested interests.

_________________
Skull, "You are a police inspector, aren't you?"
Cab Inspector Smith, "Yes."
Skull, "So, are you going to tell Mr Taylor what his rights are?"
Smith, "And ... What rights?"

Why dont you start a campaign Jaspar.....start knocking 30% off the metered fare?

CC

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

He will once he gets his own plate after the court case, yellow fluorescent lettering stands out day and night

Who knows, a black taxi, bearing a PH company advert, on its circuit and using its tariff?

The potential is enormous.

As they say, keep your friends close ...

BTW What is NTA's policy on restruiction Wayne?

_________________
Skull, "You are a police inspector, aren't you?"
Cab Inspector Smith, "Yes."
Skull, "So, are you going to tell Mr Taylor what his rights are?"
Smith, "And ... What rights?"

You could put a sign on your cab 30% off.......ask skip for advice on this

whats "restruiction" Jimbob?

CC

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

Well, if you wanted to show the Edinburgh public, and your competitor that you are weak, and desperate, you couldn't have done a better job.

Les McVey, you haven't gotten a clue.

Not only do you give ECPH, the high ground on the battlefield, you want to take the fight to them by running up hill with the sun in your eyes. ECPH, along with the help of their new found friends, the Edinburgh Public, will cut us to pieces.

The Public Relations (PR) War is almost lost before it even got started.

Les you are a complete Turkey.

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

Travis on Fasties writes:




Travis you are pathetic, and everyone knows it.

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

Wouldn't it have been more prudent to simply repond with "no comment" until the matter had been resolved then address the public with the benefits to them of any merger?

BTW What are the benefits to the public of a merger?

_________________
Skull, "You are a police inspector, aren't you?"
Cab Inspector Smith, "Yes."
Skull, "So, are you going to tell Mr Taylor what his rights are?"
Smith, "And ... What rights?"

Jeez I actually agree with you, can't help wondering what it's got to do with ECC tho

CC

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

I was avoiding usiing the term "restriction" directly, just like you're avoiding explaining the NTA's policy in respect of it

I suspect that you either are unable to explain it or are not permitted to do so

_________________
Skull, "You are a police inspector, aren't you?"
Cab Inspector Smith, "Yes."
Skull, "So, are you going to tell Mr Taylor what his rights are?"
Smith, "And ... What rights?"

I think you'll find I've already answered your query

CC

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

Really, then I thank you for it.

But, er, where and when exactly?

_________________
Skull, "You are a police inspector, aren't you?"
Cab Inspector Smith, "Yes."
Skull, "So, are you going to tell Mr Taylor what his rights are?"
Smith, "And ... What rights?"

It was elsewhere in the Scottish section, the policy is survey driven regulation, there is an additional belief that local transport plans should adapted to include regular transport demand surveys.

A policy adopted at the agm of particular interest was one of making councils adopt survey recommendations.

CC

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

And, in determining the policy, what consideration did the NTA give to the rights of drivers to have unfettered access to the tools of their trade?

_________________
Skull, "You are a police inspector, aren't you?"
Cab Inspector Smith, "Yes."
Skull, "So, are you going to tell Mr Taylor what his rights are?"
Smith, "And ... What rights?"