Taxi Driver Online

I suspect this has nothing to do with over ranking.

And everything to do with gaining a higher tender price from exclusivity.

_________________
IDFIMH

Hundreds sign petition to keep taxi rank at the University Hospital of Wales

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/heal ... i-14942198

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board want just one taxi firm to pick up patients


The taxi rank at the University Hospital of Wales

Taxi drivers have come together to form a petition to stop Wales' largest hospital from allowing only one taxi firm to pick up patients.

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board claim stricter parking measures are being introduced to ease congestion around the concourse area.

They have put a contract out to tender which will allow just one taxi firm to set down patients.

But taxi drivers claim this will have a huge impact on their jobs and patients who they have built up relationships with.

Kartar Singh, 54, from Penylan , Cardiff, who has been a taxi driver for 33 years, said: “We have a very good relationship with the patients and have wheelchair facilities.

“Many times the porter will bring the patient out and ask us to ensure the patient gets through their door safely.

“The security who work there are only doing their job and enforce their restrictions. There is no congestion from the taxi drivers but from the overflowing car park.

“The patients definitely need Hackney carriages.”

Yousef Jama, hackney carriage car driver, believes the decision is wrong and wants to challenge it.

He said: “950 hackney cars are available in Cardiff to supply the demand UHW needs as the largest hospital in Wales. We also have the biggest fleet of wheelchair vehicles in the taxi trade.

“We believe the public can make a change and that is why we have started a petition.

“We all take pride in supporting those working in the medical profession. However, we will lose this rank if we don’t unite and show our support.”

Any unauthorised vehicles set down there will receive an automatic £70 fine using the Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras.


Cllr Graham Hinchey met with with taxi drivers Sadique Mohamad and Leo Dereham and Roshan Salahuddin at the University Hospital of Wales

Heath councillor Graham Hinchey has met with taxi drivers and is organising a meeting with the health board to try and find a resolution.

He said: "Adding unnecessary costs, by charging for the rank, will not provide any benefits to the patients, staff and visitors who use it.

"The additional cost will only be passed on to customers. It could also lead to a private company from outside Cardiff taking work away and bringing vehicles that are not as easily identifiable as the black and white hackney vehicles.

“People need to travel to and from this hospital more easily and I have constantly argued for a public transport (bus, taxi and cycle) hub to be built on the UHW site near the concourse.

“This would not only ease the problem for the 10,000 people who visit every day, it would also reduce car reliance and serve as the centre for a cross Cardiff Hub, allowing people to travel to different parts of the city without having to go into the town.”

A spokeswoman for Cardiff and Vale University Health Board said: “We are still going through the procurement process prior to awarding the contract. We have contacted the chair of the Cardiff Hackney Carriage Association on two occasions to discuss their concerns but have received no response.”