DRIVER SHORTAGE CRISIS
TAXI SHORTAGE: ONE DERRY TAXI COMPANY HAD 11,000 MISSED CALLS LAST WEEKEND
Taxi companies in Derry are struggling to meet growing public demand as society reopens after lockdown. Derry Now reports that people are having to wait for long periods or walk home after a night out due to a shortage of drivers. There is a concern that it could affect city centre trade if people decide against going out due to a fear of being stranded at the end of the night. Those representing local cabbies are now calling on the government for support. Over a recent weekend in Derry, one of the bigger taxi companies had over 11,000 missed calls, demonstrating the level of unmet demand for taxis. Across the city and Northern Ireland as a whole, the number of taxi drivers is down by around 30 per cent. Cabbies have left for work as food delivery drivers or work of another kind. Eamonn O’Donnell, of NW Taxi Proprietors, said that older drivers who suffer from breathing conditions are reluctant to return and some drivers are still worried about bringing Covid home to vulnerable family members. Mr O’Donnell says that pre-pandemic entry procedures for new drivers were an obstacle to recruitment. He told Derry News: “We have asked the Department for Infrastructure
(DfI) to relax and suspend the entry procedures to the taxi industry until we get the numbers back in place. “We need breathing space to recover from the pandemic, and that’s what we’re asking for from them. If they did that it would allow us to recruit, including younger drivers. People need to be able to get in cheaper and quicker. “If it’s not addressed, come September when society is reopened and schools are back we could be looking at a serious shortage of taxis; not only to support the city centre, but to supply the school and hospital work that we do as well.” In order to encourage more drivers to work weekends, he added, increased weekend fares will have to be given consideration. Otherwise, it is his view city centre business could be ‘strangled’ because people will not want to go out if they risk being stranded at the end of the night. It could lead to anti-social behaviour in the city centre with intoxicated people unable to get taxis and an increase in ‘unregulated’ drivers. A spokesperson for the DfI said any relaxation to the current entry requirements would require further legislative consideration by the department.
AS RESTRICTIONS ARE EXTENDED FLEET TAXI FIRM CALLS FOR MORE LOCAL COUNCIL SUPPORT
Fleet based Hart Taxis has called for Hart District Council to use discretionary grant funding provided by local govern- ment to support business sectors desperately in need of support.
Owner of Hart Taxis, Roy Sheriff said: “Our business has been devastated over the last 12 months. As an industry we are reliant on the hospitality industry, airport transfers and business travel and trade has ground to a halt. “Taxi firms have not been required to close but we have had days where drivers have taken as little as £14 in a 12 hour shift. The latest extension of restrictions is another blow to our industry and we desperately need more support. “Even though the government has made it clear that local councils can allocate discretionary grants to meet the needs of local businesses in the community, Hart District Council has ignored businesses, such as taxi firms, who are reliant on sectors forced to close. “This lack of understanding and support from Hart District Council astounds me. “Retailers or restaurants required to close have been able to access tens of thousands of pounds in government grants and still been able to sell online or offer takeaways. “For example, in the latest round of funding, a local restaurant
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which has been able to offer takeaways could have received a grant six times higher than the grant which was available to us. “We pride ourselves on being part of our local community and have provide free transport to the vaccination centres for the elderly and vulnerable, continued to offer the school transport service, offered discounts to NHS workers and have partnered with local charities to give back what we can in these difficult times. “While other councils recognise the impact of national and local restrictions on taxi drivers, as well as their importance to vulnerable people during the pandemic, the council has simply ignored us. “As a company we have received a small percentage of the grants available to other businesses. “In addition, taxi drivers have received very little in the form of grants, even though many other councils have made grants available to recognise the importance of taxi companies to the local economy. “Knowing that the council has the flexibility to support us through grants but chose not to has caused me months of sleepless nights, worrying about my business, our drivers and my family.”
JULY 2021
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