Taxi strike ends as trade defeated over licensing reform Regular cab users had been left stranded during the week-long strike
A week-long strike by hundreds of Valley taxi drivers has ended after council bosses voted through a package of 40 changes to licensing rules.
Cabbies who began industrial action last Tuesday in protest at the “disastrous” proposed shake-up of the trade, called an end to strike action after a heated licensing meeting ended in defeat.
Under-fire council bosses said the changes were needed in order to crack down on the number of ‘out of town’ taxis operating with Rossendale licences.
However, while they have called off the all-out strike, cabbies are now exploring a possible judicial review.
Taxi association member Glenn Bulcock said: “We are very disappointed. We all felt very let down by the Labour Party.
“We presented a petition of 1,100 signatures from the public supporting us, which was barely looked at. It’s also the people of Rossendale who are against these changes.
“The industrial action has been called off and we are regrouping on Thursday at a meeting and looking at a judicial review to block the changes the council are trying to make.
“If our members agree to a judicial action that’s the route we’ll be going down. We will continue to fight but there won’t be any more disruption to the public.”
Association head David Lawrie added: “I was absolutely disgusted that a group of people have made such decisions, despite the disastrous impact it’s going to have on the trade.”
The reform package includes the introduction of a uniform livery, a reduction in the entry age of vehicles from seven to five years, and the introduction of mandatory CCTV in cabs.
Speaking against the proposals at the meeting, association vice-chairperson Robert Back said: “I don’t see any Rossendale spirit in this policy at all.
“We are just trying to earn a living and it’s getting harder and harder. I would like to think we are here for us, not for every outsider that’s walking through the door.”
Coun Jackie Oakes, portfolio holder for legal and democratic services, said the proposals were a matter of ‘public safety’.
She said: “I would like to say that I’m really disappointed that the local drivers went on strike last week.
“I really don’t know why the local trade is so keen to leave the floodgates open for drivers from outside Rossendale eligible to take their trade.”
However, committee member Jimmy Eaton told the meeting: “These proposals are going to put some of these drivers out of business.”
A proposal by Tory committee members to amend sections of the policy was defeated by a majority vote.
After the vote, drivers voiced their objections, with some even shouting ‘UKIP’ in an apparent dig at council leaders.
Councillors were advised by police officers to remain inside council chambers until the waiting crowds of drivers had dispersed.
After the result, Coun Steve Hughes, Rossendale council’s licensing committee chairperson, said: “The committee and the council’s focus has always been, and will always be, public safety and this includes the drivers.
“These recommendations that have been passed are not unusual and feature in many other taxi policies at other authorities.”
‘Fury over cabs chaos’Angry residents hit out after strike action by hundreds of cabs brought the Valley to a standstill.
Helmshore pensioner May Horrocks, 87, said the strike had left her ‘trapped’ in her home and unable to get to a special party with friends.
May told the Free Press: “I have been completely stuck. The only way I can get out is by wheelchair taxi and there is only one firm in Rossendale that have one.
"I had arranged to go out to a little party at Haslingden Cricket Club with my friends - we are all widows and we thought we’d go for a meal together - and I had to cancel it. It’s been very frustrating for me - I have been trapped at home.”
Kayleigh Hamer was angered after claiming that a column of taxis driving through the borough caused her ‘unnecessary stress’.
Kayleigh, who lives in Bacup, said she lost support for the trade’s industrial action after the slowly moving convoy of taxis en route to the licensing meeting at Futures Park on Tuesday, delayed her collecting her four-year-old girl from school.
She said: “I should have picked my daughter up from school at 3.20pm and I was over half an hour late picking her up due to taxis filling the roads. Make a point, but not at school time.
“It was left to the teachers to explain to a four-year-old little girl why mummy’s not there to pick her up.
“Fortunately my daughter wasn’t crying when I made it to the school but this strike has now caused unnecessary stress.”
Taxi boss David Lawrie apologised for the inconvenience but insisted the convoy had not been a ‘go-slow’ protest.
He said: “What we decided to do was have a peaceful and calm convoy. It wasn’t intended to be a slow-drive, and did it at 2pm so that we would miss the morning rush hour and the lunch and hopefully the school rush.
“However, down to traffic lights and roadworks it didn’t work out that way. We never intended to cause disruption but if that was the end result then we sincerely apologise.”
source:
http://www.rossendalefreepress.co.uk/ne ... d-12188384
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