Taxi Driver Online

CABBIES have been told to help clear Glasgow's late night streets or face increased competition from more drivers. Thousands of black cab drivers were told in a letter today that unless more worked at weekends, especially after closing time, more taxi licences would be granted, with cabbies from other areas drafted in to work in the city.

The warning comes as the city council, which licenses cabs, prepares to approve a fares rise from mid-January. It will see the cost of a journey rise 4%, with 'flag down' fares rising from £1.80 to £2, although the time and distance covered for the minimum fare will rise slightly.

The average cost of one, two or three-mile journeys would rise 20p or 40p, dep-ending on number of yards or time in the taxi while the additional charge for a journey in the early hours at weekends would go up from 80p to £2. Taxi representatives insist that even with the increase, Glasgow charges will still pay among the lowest in the UK and lower than Edinburgh, Dundee and even Falkirk.

The letter, signed by licensing boss Councillor Malcolm McLean and timed to coincide with the hike, follows a previous warning by fellow councillor Gordon Macdiarmid that if cabbies wanted more cash they would have to clear the weekend congestion at ranks. But the latest threat has not gone down well with the trade.

Bill McIntosh, secretary of Glasgow Taxis Ltd which runs more than 900 of the city's hackney cabs, was furious. He pointed to the new Night Zones where wardens keep taxi queues in order and passengers are directed to specific ranks depending on which area they're going to. And he refused to accept his members were responsible for the late night log-jam.

Mr McIntosh said: "The Glasgow taxi trade has responded magnificently in the last month since we were urged to maximise our efforts at peak times. "But taxi numbers alone will not solve all the weekend problems. "Many of our drivers would like to see us push for a bigger increase but, as ever we are trying to be fair to the public as well as our members and we're willing to compromise."

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IDFIMH

Oh Dear,

what will happen to the owners who are selling plates for £25 to £30?

regards

Jesus, £30 quid I'll take 10

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

Hi
Ok I will make a change £25k to £30k

Then again they might be worth £25 once deregulation hits the city

regards

As much as that.

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IDFIMH

I think we are also going to get this, as the council want more plates to go on to cover the early hours [late pub licences] at the weekend, but I have the answer, was in the all night garage when in comes a HC driver, we exchange the usual, "done much, been far" etc etc, oh yes got 4 outer towners on the trot, afraid not helped much to clear the ranks and favour the council have I he said, so there's the answer don't do outer towners,