PROTEST PLIGHT...
BRISTOL TRAFFIC GRIDLOCKED AS TAXI DRIVERS STAGE PROTEST OVER LOSS OF RANKS
Taxi drivers blocked one of Bristol’s busiest junctions on the morning of 29 October, causing gridlock around the city centre. According to BristolLive, the cabbies staged a protest at the Bearpit round- about, and were stationary there for more than an hour. An eye witness said he saw around 50 drivers parked around the roundabout at 8.30am. The taxis had left by 10am but congestion took some time to clear.
WAKEFIELD PROTEST HALTED AFTER POLICE THREATEN FINES
A planned demonstration by Wakefield taxi drivers was called off after police said it would break lockdown laws. Local cabbies had planned to protest outside the Wakefield One building on Burton Street on Tuesday, November 10, following a row with the council over new vehicle rules. The Wakefield Drivers Association (WDA), which organised the demon- stration, had initially said they believed it would be legal because taxi drivers are key workers and they insisted it would be carried out in a socially dis- tanced manner. But police said organisers would risk being slapped with a £10,000 fine if it went ahead as planned. The WDA now plans to hold the rally next month after lockdown restrictions are lifted again. A spokesman for the Association said they “didn’t want to risk breaking the law”, but said the event had been post- poned rather than cancelled. A number of drivers are at odds with the local authority, who want cabbies to switch to new low-emission vehicles by March. The drivers say many of them are unable to afford the cost of doing so after the trade was badly affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
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Bristol Blue Licensing Taxi Association is calling for Bristol City Council to reinstate their rank outside the Hippodrome, claiming that its removal has hit trade hard. The council says the rank is ‘unsafe’ and that an alternative space has been pro-
vided nearby. Association chairman, Saif Hussain, had warned of the strike on Facebook: “There will be a taxi protest to- morrow Thursday 29th October at 7.30am against the council, meeting up at Bruns- wick square area. “As you know we lost three major ranks
when the centre was rebranded (Alpha rank, Baldwin street rank, Hippodrome rank) and now drivers are receiving fines for picking up at the Hippodrome. “We are asking for a small night-time rank. Please be there to show your support, your trade needs you.”
GATWICK CABBIES PROTEST AGAINST UBER DRIVERS CAUSING FINANCIAL HARDSHIP
Gatwick taxi drivers have protested against Uber claiming the app is causing them financial hardship. According to the Argus, campaigners called for action over the amount of London-based Uber vehicles in and around Gatwick and Crawley. They held a rally on Saturday, October 31, calling on Crawley Borough Council to step up the pressure on TfL and Uber, to limit the operations of London licensed vehicles in Sussex. One taxi driver, Zak Ben said: “We can’t afford to allow a multinational to take much needed business out of our local economy, it’s not on.” Campaigners believe the silicon valley giant is causing hardship for local drivers whose livelihoods have already been hit by the Coronavirus pandemic. A total of 800 local taxi drivers have signed a petition demanding action to rein in the activities of London based Uber vehicles.
On October 31, Uber ceased its operation from a designated waiting area within the Beehive Lane Industrial Estate near Crawley. There is now a great deal of uncertainty about where hundreds of Uber vehicles will move to. Unite regional officer Jamie Major said it is wrong for a “a giant multinational with a controversial track record to damage local employment”. He explained: “Crawley’s economic dependence on Gatwick Airport means the town is being badly affected by the Coronavirus crisis. “Local taxi and private hire drivers are launching a campaign to ensure Crawley Borough Council and other local councils pile the pressure on Transport for London and Uber to restrict London based Uber vehicles from picking up fares around Gatwick and Crawley. “The drivers are calling for a fair and level playing field.”
DECEMBER 2020
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