Taxi Driver Online

Taxi drivers demand more ranks in Windsor

DEMANDS have been made for more taxi ranks in Windsor as anxious drivers struggle to keep their livelihoods afloat.

No new taxi rank spaces have been set up in the town by the Royal Borough since it started issuing five new Hackney Carriage licences a month in April 2012 and deregulated taxis in April this year.

To date, 71 new licences have been issued, taking the total number of Hackney Carriage licences in the borough to 159 plus 959 private hire vehicles.

Drivers fear the lack of spaces is squeezing their business and Mohammad Yasin, who has driven a taxi in the borough for more than 18 years, said the situation was the worst he had ever seen.

Mr Yasin said: “When they decided to issue five more licences each month, they said it would not be a problem. Now, we are always struggling to find a space around Windsor.

“We cannot get work. It is making life very difficult. It backs up traffic, too, especially around the Castle.”

UKIP councillor Tom Bursnall, who raised concerns about the shortage of ranks when deregulation was approved earlier this year, has supported the call for extra ranks.

He said: “I am calling on the council to free up more taxi rank space urgently. The increasing number of Hackney Carriages in Windsor is placing a significant burden on parking and traffic obstruction. These chaps need more places where they can pick up customers like outside the East Berkshire College, in St Leonard’s Road, and additional bays around the Castle. Without the space, their chance to earn income will also suffer.”

Cllr Carwyn Cox, cabinet member for environmental services, said the provision of taxi rank spaces was being reviewed across the borough.

He added: “Twelve extra spaces have already been provided in Maidenhead and additional capacity will be catered for if this is necessary.”

- See more at: http://www.localberkshire.co.uk/news/wi ... DebnU.dpuf

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

Another deregulation success story

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

I drop of in Windsor on a regular basis from Heathrow, they must do a job every hour if they're lucky.

It's rammed out with taxis at every turn, windsors a rich area, but they don't need that many cabs.

Anoher great success for deregulation, job a hour sounds good in the majority of the country

Of course the near 1000 PH doesn't effect the hackney market.

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IDFIMH

Dont know how you work in your manor,but PH dont generally need rank space

What difference does it make if your deregulated and council provides extra rank space?
It dosent increase work does it.
Simple if you have 100 Hacks restricted and you just about have enough rank space and work for them, and then Deregulating and theres another 100 Hacks on road Giving more rank spaces wouldnt mean the work would increase.
Deregulation dosent work it just floods the streets with more cabs which are not needed and its also proven that in deregulated areas Ranks are empty at certain times, And Cabs not available some times.
Ive been dropping customers off in Milton Keynes in past few years in mornings around 9am and always the Centre rank has always been empty as all cabs are single shifted and most 90% work from 12pm till around midnight.
Same goes for other Deregulated areas cabs arnt available 24/7.

But they take many many punters that would otherwise be taking those cabs away from those ranks.

Not having enough ranks is a lame excuse, basically they are saying they believe there are far too many cabs, well in that case why don't they leave and do something else.

Windsor isn't some northern town that has no work, anyone who can't get a job locally or at Heathrow/London IMO shouldn't be driving a cab either.

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IDFIMH

I take your point that the rank space problem is a small one, it's the punter numbers that really matter.

Deregulation doesn't have an effect on punter numbers.

If drivers can't license their own taxi then they will license their own PH, and take their share of punters that way.

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IDFIMH

So there is no unemployment in that area ? I bet there is if you know where to find the stats which I don't and I doubt heathrow is short of workers

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

A Council doesn't have to provide you with rank spaces (according to Ashfield Council anyway), they tell us to ride round burning off fuel looking for customers who aren't there totally going against their green issues.

I suspect there is, but I also know for a fact there are many many jobs at Heathrow and associated companies.

But you seem to be saying our trade is the next step up from unemployment, and that in itself is a very sad comment.

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IDFIMH

Sad but true, especially with earnings as they are.I somehow doubt Heathrow is short of workers though unless its a skilled position.