Taxi Driver Online

Evening Gazette

August 17, 2006, Thursday

HEADLINE: Cabbies protest

BYLINE: Mike Blackburn

'Drive slow' to highlight threat to jobs

FRUSTRATED cabbies in Stockton are planning a huge demonstration over issues they claim are threatening their livelihoods.

An estimated 150 drivers from the Stockton Hackney Carriage Drivers' Association will stage the protest around Stockton town centre on Wednesday.

The association's main concerns include Stockton Council's policy of not restricting numbers of new taxi licences, and what it claims is a failure to clamp down on private hire drivers flouting the law.

David Walker, secretary of the association, accepted the hour-long "drive slow" through the town centre streets from 11am would cause disruption.

But he said members were frustrated and determined.

"We have too many taxis using Stockton High Street and private hire vehicles taking work from the ranks, and it is threatening our livelihoods," he said.

"We believe there are already 120 licensed vehicles too many for the population of the borough. We have asked the council to restrict licences, but we are getting nowhere. When is it going to stop?"

The council adopted a policy of not restricting licences in the late 1980s "following requests from the trade", and said a recent report by the Office for Fair Trading supports this practice.

John Vickers, Office Of Fair Trading chairman, said: "Taxis are an important form of transport, especially for the disabled and those without cars. Quantity restrictions are against the public interest because they mean fewer taxis on the road, longer waiting times, less choice and risks to public safety."

The association also accused the council of failing to clamp down on private hire vehicles flouting the law - including parking illegally, driving the wrong way in one-way streets, illegal use of bus lanes and using set-down areas as ranks.

But the council insists it is endeavouring "to eradicate illegal actions of both licensed and unlicensed drivers" and points to five successful prosecutions since January 2005 and 25 disciplinary matters relating to conduct and breach of conditions.

David Kitching, trading standards and licensing manager for Stockton Council, said: "We share the concerns of Stockton Drivers Association including all matters relating to public safety and flouting of the law, and we continue our discussions with them and the private hire trade to try to resolve these issues."

Stockton Police Inspector Ciaron Irvine said: "While we support the right to peaceful and lawful protest, this must be balanced against the needs of the community."
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Some may not know this but back in 1994 Stockton was featured in the Transport select committee report on proposed Taxi legislation. Evidence was presented to show that after removing mandatory orders on vehicle policy, within six months LTI vehicles diminished from 62% to 38%". At the time the statistic was held up as evidence that LTI could not survive in a mixed fleet without restricting numbers control and backed up by mandatory orders. A fact which at the time was borne out by Captain Cabs Carlisle Taxi owners ass, who said, "that they could not economically run an FX4 if a cheaper option was given a license to perform the same task".

I wonder if the Captain actually wrote that?
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Evening Gazette

August 23, 2006, Wednesday

HEADLINE: Taxi protest scaled down

A major town centre protest by disgruntled taxi drivers in Stockton was due to go ahead today.

But after talks with council chiefs, the Stockton Hackney Carriage Drivers' Association has agreed to significantly reduce the number of taxis taking part.

As reported, the association is protesting over a number of concerns including Stockton Council's policy of not restricting numbers of new taxi licences, and what it claims is a failure to clamp down on private hire drivers flouting the law.

David Walker, secretary of the association, accepted the hour-long "drive slow" through the town centre streets from 11am would cause disruption. But he said members were "frustrated and determined".

Originally around 150 drivers were due to take part in today's protest.

But David Kitching, trading standards and licensing manager for Stockton Council, said: "Discussions have taken place between all parties and it was agreed that in the interests of public safety the number of taxis taking part in the demonstration would be reduced."

He added: "We will continue our discussions with all parties involved and will be organising further meetings to try and resolve the matter."
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I have been in this trade far too long

well found though

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin