Taxi Driver Online

Free for all sparks fears of taxi wars

DISGRUNTLED taxi drivers have admitted that unless the council change their ways someone is going to get hurt. Taxi drivers outside of Birmingham International Train Station told the News about what they call 'an irresponsible attitude to handing out badges.'

One of the drivers, Dave Thorne said: "There is just no room for the number of taxis that operate within the borough. "The council knows that there are too many drivers for too little jobs but they continue to hand out these badges like confetti, allowing far too many people to drive the taxis. "There are spaces for around 11 taxis in Solihull town centre but you try getting one there. It will end up in violence with people fighting for a job."


The rise in taxi driver badges being handed out was an original scheme set up to counter a lack of taxis within a night in Solihull. Mr Thorne said: "There was a problem yes. All of the new drivers now though work the day so the night shift is still busy.

"When everybody comes out of pubs and clubs at the same time they expect a wait for a taxi. "What people don't seem to realise is that when that first rush dies down we stop having jobs and making a living. It is the only real chance on a night shift to make money."

The rise in taxi badges being handed out is dangerous also according to one driver who did not want to be named, "They are giving these badges out not caring that the drivers have to work 15-16 hour days for seven days a week just to earn a living. How safe is that for the borough."

Gavin Morrice licensing manager at Solihull Council said: "We are following guidance set by the Office of Fair Trading which says we should not restrict the numbers of taxis available.

"More taxis means better choice and service for customers, less queues at the end of the night, less frustrations and opportunities for anti-social behaviour.

"We have received a petition from some taxi drivers on this issue, and a report will be presented to the Licensing Sub Committee on May 21. We will also be meeting with representatives of the taxi trade and some independent drivers to discuss the issue."

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IDFIMH

So all these new drivers have paid out £20-30,000 and are sitting around during the day earning nothing, all the time it's mobbed at night.

They are all either thick or someone telling fibs.

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IDFIMH

Yep sussex your quite right, I reckon we need to get them a good dose of deregulation....that would make them work harder.

kin layabouts



CC

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

Posts do sometimes have a habit of being exaggerated but they do basically sing from the same hymn book.

This deregulation will make drivers become proper Hackney's sourcing out work etc, But! I cannot comprehend the safety issue.

It is true that driver will end up working 70/80 per week and more, this is happening now in Newport Gwent - as I have said before it is okay by them L.As - stuff the drivers! So you fight it on the safety of the general public.

Right now here is the hard part, all of those who have been banging on about joining a Trade Union or Federation - WHAT ARE THEY DOING ABOUT IT.

Sorry about the shouting, but if they do nothing hit them where it hurts, resign your membership.

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if you cannot be yourself, then who can you be.

It may also lead to financial hardship, marriage break ups (admittedly not always a bad thing), suicides, people not maintaining vehicles correctly, people ripping off passengers and a reliance upon radio circuits

But never mind, so long as we're proper hackneys.

CC

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

Not quite what I meant, more of a we will have to go and look for work - as opposed to sitting on ones ar$e waiting for it. But! some of the points that you made are very valid.

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if you cannot be yourself, then who can you be.

Is that what happened in Carlisle?

JD

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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.

I think it fits Ireland better don't you.

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

I wasn't aware that Eire was in the UK?

The problem with eire is that they had no quality controls in place whatsover and they weren't prepared for the eventually of the courts telling them that their legislation was illegal.

Thats what you get when you don't prepare for deregulation and thats what I've been telling everyone for the last four years.

There is a right way and there is a wrong way, however we all know that councillors know best. lol

Regards

JD

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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.

I don't believe I suggest that Ireland was anything other than Ireland,
The funny thing about Birningham is that the local Taxi Association were the people that requested for the cab on numbers to be taken off...

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

70/80 hours per week?

Something doesn't add up here.

If the council are supposed to be controlling the trade why is this happening? If it indeed does.

Either someone is telling porkies or the tariff is wrong. Too cheap for the service and availability of taxis.

I suspect someone is just telling porkies.

No porkies from me! Look at the tariff in PHM and you will see how far Newport have fallen down it in the last 5years. I worked there 18 months ago and they had fallen over 100 places then.

The policies that they have in force include "E" reg hackney saloons on the road, these are cars in taxi terms that have about 48 years wear and tear, London style cabs coming in "K" reg already hammered.

The tariff started at £2.00 for "I think" the first 1200 yards then went up by 10p per 140 yards, it does not take a genius to work out that if you keep on issuing licences like they are then you cannot afford decent vehicles and earn a living without putting in extraordinary hours.

What these guys have to do, is to come out about 1 pm until 7pm and then come back out around 9/10pm until 3am and later - work it out times 7. I can assure you, that you and I live in a different world, 80% of the drivers are Asian - they will do it, whereas the white man will not.

Trust me when I tell you - there is collusion going on in Newport between the council and one of the big operators, and I am convinced that they are trying to drive the Independent Hackney off the road. This is so that they will have tabs on every driver through Data bases, because they do not trust the drivers!

No PORKIES from me - Just the truth.

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if you cannot be yourself, then who can you be.