PROTEST PLIGHT
NOTTINGHAM DISRUPTED BY TAXI PROTESTS
Taxi driver protests have caused major dis- ruption in Nottingham, a transport chief claims. Trams and buses run- ning through the city centre were delayed on Tuesday and Wednesday 5th and 6th July, causing con- gestion on the roads. It was caused by taxi drivers protesting against a new rule enforced by Notting- ham City Council which allows the authority to fine them for blocking bus lanes and flouting other regulations. Hackney cabbies claim the rule is forcing them to drive around because there are not enough rank spaces available. Anthony Carver -Smith, spokesman for Not- tingham City Trans-
port, said traffic had been slower than usual during the protests. He said: “Any service that went through the city centre was affect- ed because they all go through the same area. Any congestion in that area will have a huge knock-on effect [on other services].” Trams were delayed by at least an hour and buses were running 30 to 40 minutes late throughout the day. The cabbies say they cannot work properly under the new policy, which means an instant fine of £35 if they are found parking illegally.
Bashir Latif, secretary for the Nottingham Licensed Taxi Owners’ and Drivers’ Associa- tion, said: “If you look
at it from the view of taxi drivers, if you work about eight hours then the majority of the tak- ings is going to pay the fine, then there’s no point in working.” Jane Urquhart, portfo- lio holder for transport at the city council, said: “All we are ask- ing them to do is to obey the legal rules that are out there. “We are asking them not to park on double yellow lines, at bus bays an at the pay and display areas.
“The issue is some- thing we have talked about with the Notting- ham Licensed Taxi Owners’ and Drivers’ Association over the past few years.” See also the Notting- ham story in Rank Rumblings.
PENRITH CABBIES PROTEST AGAINST ROADWORKS
Taxi drivers have mounted a protest in Penrith against exten- sive road works. They say that diver- sions and traffic jams are forcing increased journey times and fares which are hitting their elderly and dis- abled customers hard. Roadworks have been ongoing in key loca- tions of the town while two new supermarkets are built. Part of Brunswick Road - one of the main roads into the town centre - is closed while sewage, gas and water connections are
made to the new Booths supermarket. There is also disrup- tion at Kempley Bank and Princes Street because of the Penrith New Squares develop- ment and new Sainsburys store. Taxi driver Jane Peet, who organised the protest outside the Eden Council offices at Penrith Town Hall, told the Carlisle News and Star: “These road works are really exten- sive. We feel that they could possibly have been staggered to minimise the effect it is having on traffic.”
She added: “Lengthy detours are forcing up the price of fares and we see how this is affecting people who need to use a taxi.” One disabled Penrith resident who joined the protest said: “A journey which used to cost me £3.80 is now £12. I am disabled and depend on taxis to get around but I can’t afford to pay this on my benefits.”
During the demonstra- tion, a group of four taxi drivers was invited into the council offices for a meeting with offi- cials.
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During a meeting between the rail com- pany bosses and drivers, organised by St Albans MP Anne Main, tensions ran high. Four association members, represent- ing all taxi drivers who trade from the station, said it was unaccept- able for their permits to be increased by almost £60 a year. Following the hike, which came into effect at the beginning of the year, the drivers sent emails to FCC which they say have been ignored.
Cabbie Zumfiquar Ahmed, who trades
from the station, said: “We have tried on a number of occasions to contact FCC by email but we have heard nothing.”
Mr Ahmed told FCC’s David Burns, cus- tomer services manager, that since their rank has been moved to the side of the station, cabbies are picking up less trade because pas- sengers do not know where they are. However, Mr Burns denied the drivers were tucked away, adding: “We made a major investment in the station, providing you with a new rank and to say it is not fit for purpose is not a valid argument.” But Mr Ahmed hit back, arguing that when private hire firms drop off customers in the lay-by at the front of the station, they ille- gally ply for trade. Mrs Main said she wanted the issues to be addressed by the rail company and felt she had to step in to organise the meeting, on Friday June 24,
when drivers were threatening to strike. She said: “I think there is a problem here, and some sort of misun- derstanding, because the taxi drivers are saying the majority are not happy, but David says there is only a small number.”
The association agreed to re-send its email, highlighting its concerns, to FCC. And Mrs Main said she will organise a ques- tionnaire about the issues for taxi drivers to answer.
The feedback will be passed on to FCC and NCP.
Mmmm… Here we go again with parking nightmares! And of course railway station car parks take the bis- cuit, especially when it comes to access acri- mony, who does what to whom and who gets the dosh. At least in this instance the MP is organizing a question- naire to gauge trade opinion… how often do these moves come about as a fait accom- pli and the trade finds out too late? – Ed.
PHTM AUGUST 2011
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