Taxi Driver Online

April 11, 2008 Friday

'We need fewer taxis and more ranks'

Watford Observer

Taxi drivers have called upon the mayor to stop issuing Hackney Carriage licenses in Watford until the council can provide more town centre taxi ranks.

Cabbies in Watford say there are now more than 200 licensed taxis operating in Watford on busy weekend evenings.

However, there are only 25 spaces to stop and wait on ranks inside the town centre. And until there are more taxi ranks, one Hackney Carriage driver is calling for Watford Borough Council to put a freeze on the number of cabs in the town.

Shafiq Ahmed described the current situation as "ridiculous".

He said: "There are too many taxis in Watford. "There is no room for any more taxis so why is the mayor issuing more licenses? "Stop issuing licenses until we have enough ranks for us to stand by during the day and in the evening."

In 2005, the council decided to remove the limit on the number of taxis operating in Watford to try and help clear the town of drinkers on a Friday and Saturday nights.

There are currently 244 licensed taxis in Watford, with 75 of those issued since the number of cabs was delimited in November 2006.

Currently there are six taxi ranks around Watford, providing 43 spaces.

The council has investigated the possibilty of extending the Rickmansworth Road rank, opposite the town hall, but found it was too expensive. The bottom floor of Gade car park was also recently turned into a late night taxi rank, however, it also proved unsuccessful.

Mayor of Watford, Dorothy Thornhill says plans are already underway to increase the number of ranks in the town, but says she will never stand in the way of people wanting to earn a living.

She said plans to establish ranks at the Avenue car park or close to Sainsburys are already being discussed.

However, the mayor ruled out the possibility of limiting the number of taxis. She said: "The council is taking the taxi driver issue seriously and we are looking at ways to improve the situation.

"But our job is not to guarantee a set market for one trade in the town.

"Our experience is that the market will find its own level.

However, we are already investigating every possibility in the town to find more taxi ranks." She said she would encourage drivers to circle the town allowing people to hail a cab.

However, Mr Shifiq says the council should introduce a test, similar to London, where taxi drivers are quizzed on their local street knowledge.

He added: "The mayor is issuing license after license after license - there is no restriction and there is no test.

"We feel we are being victimised."
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Please don't tell me that cab drivers in Watford don't do a knowledge.

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IDFIMH