Tesco closure in Kirkcaldy sparks fears for taxi drivers’ jobsThe closure of a Tesco superstore could mark the end of the road for Kirkcaldy’s cabbies, an industry leader has warned.
Harry Bell, chairman of the Kirkcaldy Taxi Owners’ Association, said that the supermarket giant’s plan to close its town centre outlet will decimate the local taxi trade, with as many as 50 jobs lost.
Tesco is set to leave the town next month, despite high-profile efforts to save the store and its 189 jobs. However, Mr Bell said the closure will have a savage impact on the wider town centre, including those taxi drivers who queue outside the supermarket.
“It is going to be devastating,” he told The Courier. “Some of the drivers only work during the day and don’t work at night. They could lose 80% of their income. It is really concerning.”
Should Tesco close its doors on April 4, Mr Bell estimates that around £1.5 million generated by the taxi industry alone would disappear from the town’s economy.
He added his fear that between 40-50 drivers would lose their jobs because of the expected downturn in custom.
“At the end of the day, it is sad for the Tesco staff, as they are losing their jobs, but they are being made redundant and there is the chance customers will go to Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and Asda and they might need extra staff.
“On the taxis, there is no redundancy payment and no other chance of employment in the trade.
“We are trying various avenues and we have had some good meetings but we are running out of time.”
As well as speaking to politicians, a dialogue has been opened with Fife Council’s transportation department with a view to opening ranks elsewhere in the town.
Mr Bell said action is urgently needed to help support the industry in Kirkcaldy. “It’s very hard just now,” he added. “We are roughly drawing in today what we did 10 years ago but everything is much more expensive.
“There is no night-time traffic anymore and it’s very tough to make ends meet. Fuel is so much dearer, as are spare parts.”
Local MSP David Torrance met Mr Bell and has pledged his support to the town’s taxi industry.
“The taxi association stand to lose a lot of jobs and there could be a potential loss of £1.5m, which would be huge to local businesses,” he said.
“It’s important that if Tesco closes, and I hope it does not, we have sites that taxis can operate from.”
Councillor Neil Crooks also met taxi operators and said the meetings had proven productive while efforts to keep the superstore open are ongoing.
“Whether Tesco shuts or not, the lack of ranks is real and current and puts all taxis locally at a disadvantage,” he said. “The owners shared ideas with us and myself and Councillor Ross agreed to consider those proposals with officers and meet again before the proposed closing date for Tesco.
“We believe there is scope for additional ranks at other locations and the owners have been in dialogue with other stores in Kirkcaldy and I believe something positive will emerge.”
source:
http://www.thecourier.co.uk/news/local/ ... s-1.847957
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