Taxi drivers 'turning down short trips around Scunthorpe town centre'TAXI drivers in Scunthorpe are refusing to take people who live close to the town centre home after a night out, a young mum has claimed.
Ally Lashko, who lives on Church Lane, claims some drivers are waiting for customers who need to travel further afield so they benefit from the higher fare.
And she says that means young women are left walking home alone in the middle of the night.
She said: "This happens all the time because I live close to town.
"The drivers tell me I live too close for them to take me home or they say they are booked up already or don't know where Church Lane is.
"They do it so they can pick up fares to villages and get more money.
"All of my friends have had the same problem."
The 23-year-old said: "I refuse to walk home and have had to call my mum or boyfriend to pick me up but I know some of my friends have walked home.
"There are girls as young as 18 out and it's not safe for them to walk home.
"They could be injured and the taxi drivers would be responsible.
"It's their job to take people home.
"I'm sure everyone would agree with me that something needs to be done. I think they should be issued with on the spot fines."
Kuljinder Juj, Chairman of the Scunthorpe and District Taxi Association, said this has been a problem for more than a year.
He said: "There is definitely an issue. I have spoken with the local authority about this and they need to tackle the problem. I've also spoken to taxi drivers about it.
"Most reputable firms do not do it but some single licence taxi drivers do. They say they never do it but I know there are some problems."
According to the Taxi Services Commission, once hailed, a driver cannot refuse a fare that is too short or inconvenient.
Mr Juj added: "I would advise people to book taxis in advance, check the registration and the roof sign before getting into them."
Councillor Keith Vickers, Chairman of the Licensing Subcommittee, which considers taxi licensing, said taxi drivers are not allowed to refuse fares.
He said: "We have had reports of this happening from taxi firms themselves.
"One of the suggestions we are looking at is putting something up at the taxi rank to warn drivers."
A North Lincolnshire Council spokeswoman said it had received complaints but there has been insufficient evidence to take further action.
She said: "We have undertaken a number of test purchases to replicate the short journeys complained about.
"On each occasion the fare has been taken and not once was it refused.
"We have therefore been unable to substantiate these complaints.
"We continue to monitor the situation and we welcome any further information which may assist us."
She said the council won't be carrying out more test purchases in the near future due to limited resources.
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