AIRPORT AILMENTS
BIRMINGHAM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WINS HIGH COURT BATTLE AGAINST BLACK CAB DRIVERS
A lengthy dispute between taxi drivers and Birmingham International Airport over a terminated contract has finally ended after a judge ruled airport bosses had acted legally. Members of the Birmingham and Solihull Taxi Associa- tion, who have served the airport for more than 50 years, claimed they had been unfairly treated after losing their contract to rival Pas- senger Transport Services on June 1. In protest, hundreds of BASTA drivers took part in a drive- slow through Birmingham city
centre which brought rush-hour traffic to a standstill. More mayhem ensued over three days, as cabbies flocked around New Street station and other busy ranks looking for fares. But an injunction granted last month had allowed drivers to return to work at the airport until the judicial review was settled at Birming- ham High Court. According to the Birmingham Post, Justice Wyn Williams ruled air- port bosses had acted legally in awarding PTS a new contract
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because of BASTA’s worsening financial situation.
Mr Justice Williams cited a contract made between BASTA and the air- port in 2004 which stated that the agreement could be terminated if there was a “substantial deterioration in the financial circum- stances of the licensee”. BASTA’s accounts showed that the group made a net loss of £289,952 in 2007 and was expect- ed to continue making a loss into 2008.
Mr Justice Williams stated the compa-
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nies’ loss of money “could have very damaging effects on the provision of taxi services.” He agreed BASTA had the opportunity to make appropriate repre- sentations about the state of its financial affairs and about whether the licence should be terminat- ed.
One of BASTA’s directors, Mr Bashir Ahmed, attended the hearing and, after reading the review, said he feared BASTA would go bankrupt. “BASTA is a non-prof- it making organisation that only formed to support
drivers at the airport. Since they have not been working, it has not received funding by subscription,” he said.
“Many of the drivers haven’t worked since PTS took over in June and may have to start claiming ben- efits.”
Mr Ahmed, a taxi driver for 13 years, said his colleagues had been unable to find work in other areas in the city. “There are 150-200 drivers out of work with nowhere to go. Birmingham city centre is saturated – it can take up to three hours to get one fare,” he said.
An airport spokesman said: “We welcome the Court’s judgement concerning the judi- cial review which was filed by BASTA fol- lowing our decision to change the man- agement contract for our Hackney Car- riage operation at Birmingham Airport. “We have had a successful transi- tion and the black cab operation con- tinues to be coordinated by the new management company, PTS, which offers our black cab drivers and passengers the facilities and serv- ice they require.”
STANSTED AIRPORT STRONGLY DISPUTES CLAIMS OF
UNFAIR TRADING PRACTICES
Stansted Airport has strenuously denied claims of unfair trad- ing practices.
Stop Stansted Expansion (SSE) has asked the Office of Fair Trading to inves- tigate claims made after it surveyed taxi firms, bed and break- fast accommodation and guest houses within a 15-mile radius of the terminal. The group claims that of the 28 replies to its questionnaire, there were com- plaints from taxi firms about its exclu- sive agreement with one firm, which has a dedicated pick-up area directly outside the terminal build- ing, while other operators must pick up passengers from the short-stay car
park and pay for parking.
Meanwhile, accom- modation providers complained against the accommodation booking desk at Stansted, which they claimed charged local B&Bs and guest houses excessive rates of commission and gave preferential treatment to airport hotels. SSE campaign direc- tor Carol Barbone told the Halstead Gazette: “There are clearly some issues here which deserve to be investigated. Local taxi firms and family-run B&Bs obvi- ously do not feel they are getting a fair crack of the whip from BAA at Stanst- ed, and hopefully this is something which
the Office of Fair Trading will pursue on their behalf.” But Nick Barton, Stansted Airport’s commercial and development direc- tor, said: “It’s now very clear to us the real purpose of SSE is not to oppose expansion but to attack the very exis- tence of Stansted. “It is seeking to dam- age the airport and, in doing so, the liveli- hood of the thousands of people who work at Stanst- ed, their families and our millions of pas- sengers. “We are extremely proud of our track record and have an excellent reputation as a responsible business within our local community.”
PHTM AUGUST 2009
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