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Taxi drivers hit out over new parking rules Apr 8 2005

Taxi drivers have hit out at Coventry City Council's new parking rules as being little more than a money-spinner.

The city council expects to pull in £1million a year from the new scheme, which will see on-street charging introduced and the number of traffic wardens - which the council calls "parking attendants" - increase from 13 to 36.

More cash is expected from fines.

On-street charges have not yet begun but wardens began pounding the streets this week, and cabbie Gurdeep Hyare, former chairman of Coventry Taxi Drivers' Association, said they did not need tighter rules as taxis already struggle for places to stop.

He said: "Taxi ranks are always overflowing because there are too many taxis for the ranks supplied by the council.

"Let's be honest - it's just another channel for revenue for the council.

"It won't go down well with the normal motorist either. Not everyone parks illegally but sometimes you park illegally and perfectly safely.

"Their only line of work is to get as many tickets as possible. They've a quota and they've to fulfil that quota."

But Cllr David Arrowsmith (Con, Sherbourne), chairman of the council's urban regeneration and regional planning committee which approved the scheme, has denied the parking attendants will have quotas.

He insists the venture will speed up traffic flow and reduce accidents.

Council staff were bracing themselves for complaints about the first fines, at £60 each.

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

If everybody parked legally and no tickets were issued how long would the 36 parking attendants keep thier jobs,it could be a good way of getting rid of them

we've always joked here in Canada, that when the ticket attendents are out that they must be low on their quotas...otherwise you'll find them in the coffee shops with the policemen!! They don't ever seem to be out except when the weather is warm here!!!

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I manage a taxi history section at www.taxidriver.ca , and am always in need of historical taxi facts. Send me a story, fact,news, even a picture to post.