AIRPORT AILMENTS
LOCALS LIVING BY BIRMINGHAM AIRPORT DEMAND ACTION OVER UBER DRIVERS’ LAY-BY BEHAVIOUR
Uber drivers waiting to pick up customers on a route near Birm- ingham Airport are being slapped with £100 on-the-spot fines. Local residents have reported chaos on the red route close to BHX allegedly caused by the PHVs. Pictures show queues of vehicles parked dangerously on the A45 between Damson Parkway and Goodway Road. Solihull Council confirmed it had visited the site 417 times, issuing 91 PCNs since
Christmas. West
Midlands Police also confirmed it has been patrolling the area since January, issuing the £100 fines. There is dash cam footage of Uber drivers performing dangerous man- oeuvres such as sudden stops and reversing into the dual carriage- way. PHVs are also understood to be churning up the verges,
“duty of care” to its neighbours. “The police and council are doing a good job of moving drivers on and issuing fines to anyone caught parking illegally. I have contacted Uber asking for help due to the danger innocent people are facing, but the problem persists.
littering, and blocking the bus stop leaving alighting users vulnerable. Local councillors Yvonne Clements and Laura McCarthy also spoke of the public health and safety concerns caused by the drivers. Cllr Yvonne Clements said: “It is an offence to park on a red route or in a bus stop. Unfortunately, vehicle drivers have been seen to use the lay-by as a toilet and continually leave litter behind.” Cllr Laura McCarthy said BHX has a
GLASGOW AIRPORT PRICE HIKE BRANDED “OUTRAGEOUS”
Glasgow Airport has increased pick-up and drop-off charges in a move branded “outrageous”. George Mullen, of Glasgow Taxis, says drivers will have no choice but to pass the charge onto customers. The new prices came into effect on 14 February. It will now cost anyone entering the pick-up/drop-off zone £5.50 for up to 15 minutes, a 50p increase. Motorists who stay over 15 minutes, will be charged £1 for every extra minute. Drivers who wish to park more than 15 minutes are advised to use the Short Stay car park, costing £15 for 60 minutes. George, 62, makes around six trips
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to the airport a week. He said: “There’s guys with a few airport jobs a day having to charge people over a fiver but what is it for? That airport has never been busier, so there’s no reason for any charges. It’ll add on to the customer because we cannot swallow it. “You can’t say to people that you’ll drop them off across the road and they’ll have to walk over round- abouts and car parks. Less people are going to use taxis to the airport which will reduce our business. It’s shocking and outrageous. “They should reduce the charge or make taxis exempt from paying it.”
“The drivers need to be able to rest and earn a living. The airport and taxi firms must work together to find somewhere safe for taxis to park before a serious accident occurs. “Birmingham Airport has a duty of care to its neighbours, that’s why we’re calling for a long-term solution for all concerned.” A Birmingham Airport spokes- person said: “For private hire drivers serving airport customers we have an on-site holding area which all Uber drivers have to use in order to be allocated airport pick-ups. This is in agreement with our Uber partner.” Confirming its crackdown, a spokesperson for Solihull Council said: “The PH drivers who use this route have been made aware that they are not to park there when waiting for their next customer and the situation is improving. “Our environmental enforcement officers are also dealing with the litter issues in the area.” An Uber spokesperson said: “The safety of customers, drivers and the public is a top priority for Uber and we are working on a technical change to help address this issue. “Any driver found driving dang- erously faces losing access to the app and all drivers must adhere to applicable laws and regulations including the Highway Code.”
MARCH 2024 PHTM
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