Earning a living in Cheltenham as a taxi driver is becoming increasingly difficult.
That is the view of some drivers who feel that there are now too many taxis in the town, saying they estimate there now to be in the region of 700 taxis and private hire cars operating.
One driver, who wishes remain anonymous, explained that sometimes it is possible to "sit for hours" at the ranks in town without a single fare.
Concerns are being raised that the borough council is issuing an inappropriate number of licenses in the town causing the market to saturate.
Among taxi firms across the town the consensus seems to be that they are aware of the number of cars operating, with one firm saying that there were "far too many". Another firm said that although January was quiet it is likely to pick up over the next few weeks especially as the racing season is about to get going with the Festival taking place next month.
One controller at a Cheltenham firm admitted that self-employed drivers will understandably work extra hours during race week in order to push their earning potential as it is one of the busiest weeks of the year. As to whether or not they felt there were too many cars in the town the controllers said they were aware of the issue of a large number of cars operating but that they were not fully aware of drivers being left for hours with no work.
John Kemp from the National Taxi Association said: "Normal procedure with local authorities, they are in a position to do surveys if they wish to see if there is enough [taxis]."
Mr Kemp said there is often no limit on the number of taxis operating in an area but that the number of licenses issued is often dependent upon the number of cars that can be accommodated in the rank spaces.
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http://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/im ... -008_C.jpgMr Kemp went further and said that the number of cars available in the town "would soon find it's own level if there isn't enough work for everybody."
Louis Krog, licensing team leader at Cheltenham Borough Council said that they will be conducting a licensing policy review and in response to drivers working additional hours during busy periods he said that each driver was constrained by the Working Time Directive and that each driver should organise their working patterns to fit within that.
He said: "'The council issued 11 new hackney carriage (taxi) vehicles licences in 2016 that represents a five per cent increase for that year.
''Whilst there is a power for the council to cap the number of taxi licences that it will issue, that power is strictly related to demand for the service of taxis and there are strict evidential requirements on the council to prove the case when making a decision to cap licence numbers.
''The council will this year be embarking on a comprehensive taxi and private hire licensing policy review that will include the trade from the outset. The council considers the policy review to be the right forum to have a discussion about the council's current policy on licensing, amongst other things, taxis.
''Taxi driver working hours are regulated by the Working Time Directive and it is up to each individual taxi driver to make sure they comply with the relevant constraints on their permitted working hours.''
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http://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/im ... 1_W220.jpgT
Read more at
http://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/ar ... 8mEp8V5.99Again a so called Licensing team leader Louis Krog makes a statement which is totally incorrect and its published in the press,this person must be made to apologise for misleading the people of Cheltenham and others.
A person in charge of Licensing must know that a TAXI driver is not governed by the Working Time Directive.
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