CABBIES’ CONCERNS
BOLTON CABBIES AIR CONCERNS OVER CLEAN AIR ZONE TO METRO MAYOR ANDY BURNHAM
Bolton cabbies have met with Metro Mayor Andy Burnham. The Bolton News reports that the recent meeting between taxi and PH driver representa- tives and the Mayor was set up by Bolton South East MP Yasmin Qureshi. The drivers told Mr Burnham their fear that the proposed CAZ and MLS policies could force them out of busi- ness and have held a series of protests to show their opposition. Bolton PH Association secretary, Yasif Khan, said: “Obviously at the moment we’re in limbo, its stressful because this is about our livelihoods. “They’ve got to take cost of living and rising gas prices into account, we just wish someone would make a decision and let us know what it’s going to be.” The MLS proposal would mean taxi vehicles would have to be less than five years old on first registration and have
been on the road for less than ten years to avoid a charge. The CAZ will also hit drivers with charges if approved. Mr Khan said: “The government and the council have both been throwing the ball to each other and we’re caught in the middle, we don’t know where we are.” Mr Burnham told Mr Khan and the others that he had written to Boris Johnson on the matter, but over three weeks on he has not received a reply.
Ms Qureshi said: “This meeting between Andy Burnham and the heads of the taxi trade in Bolton was crucial to provide all parties the chance to dis- cuss their concerns and how we move forward now that the Government has finally paused the legal directive which was placed on Greater Manchester. “This entire process has been tough for everyone involved. “Our ten local GM local authorities were bounced into introducing this by the government’s legal directive, only for local Conservative MPs to then play politics by criticising the Mayor, who had no real say in the entire process, and local councils for introducing it. “For the Prime Minister to also mislead the House of Commons on this matter at Prime Minister’s Questions recently shows that it is being used as a political football rather than in good faith.”
BURTON TAXI AND PRIVATE HIRE FIRMS TAKE STRIKE ACTION AFTER ATTACK ON DRIVER
Taxi and private hire firms across Burton launched a two-night strike in the town after a driver was attacked. According to StaffordshireLive, taxi firm, 43 Taxis, was supported by some of the largest cab companies in the town by striking on Saturday 16 April after one of its taxi drivers was allegedly punched and kicked to his head and body on Good Friday night in a dispute about a £6 fare. They had been due to strike again on Sunday night but the firm called it off after police confirmed a 22-year-old man from Burton has been arrested on suspicion of assault by beating. Faisle Rashid, owner of 43 Taxis, said: “My driver picked up the customer and his girlfriend at about 4am and they had a dispute about the £6 fare. “The driver was trying to ring the office
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and the customer snatched his phone and threw it out the window. When the driver got out to fetch it, the cus- tomer came up behind him, got him by his throat and started punching and kicking him to his head and body.” Mr Rashid says he and his colleagues are unhappy with the Staffordshire Police response and says this is what has prompted the strike action. He claims the police told the victim to attend Burton police station two days after the incident to be interviewed and believes his driver should not have to wait to be interviewed, saying that “it is absolutely unacceptable”.
He added: “We decided to have a strike on Saturday night and told police that if no arrests were made by 10am on Sunday then we would strike again. “We know the customer, he has been using us for a while and is normally OK.” Mr Rashid said that the support from other firms has been unanimous. “The reaction from other taxi firms is that they stand behind us. This cannot be allowed to happen. “My driver is banged up. He has bruises over his head and leg and has a black eye. He has cuts and his jaw has moved out of place. He will be off work for at least a month.” A spokesman for Staffordshire Police said: “Officers have been liaising with local taxi companies, community leaders and the local authority to dis- cuss the concerns raised.”
MAY 2022
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