IN THE NEWS


CABBIES SAY LEEDS CITY SQUARE ROADWORKS IS COSTING THEM THEIR LIVELIHOODS


Taxi and private hire drivers in Leeds have


said long-running


roadworks in the city centre are costing them their livelihoods. Last year, work started to pedest- rianise City Square but cabbies say the work is killing business and they’re losing earnings. Driver Asaf Hussain said which- ever direction he travelled in the city centre, he faced a hurdle. “You can pull out of the station and before you’ve got anywhere your meter might be showing over £5. Before this, you used to be able to go right up to the university for £5.” Work is also being carried out by Network Rail to transform the nearby entrance to the railway station which has involved moving the taxi rank - drivers say this has


caused further problems. Mark Vine, who has been a hackney carriage driver in Leeds for 18 years, said: “If I can’t get around, it’s very frustrating for me, but also for my passengers. We have one road into Leeds city centre and the station, and one road out, and everyone is using it.” Mr Vine said his income had been reduced by up to 50%, adding: “It’s disgraceful.”


Cllr Helen Hayden, executive mem- ber for infrastructure, said she understood drivers’ frustrations. “We’ve put in bus gates to help ease the flow of traffic. Hackneys are allowed through, so that gives them priority along with buses.” She said there would be future economic benefits for cabbies once the works were completed as more people would visit Leeds. James Moy, of Leeds Area Improve- ments at Network Rail, said he understood drivers’ concerns and apologised for the disruption. “We have taken steps to alleviate issues, including using traffic marshals to improve traffic flow through the area. We’re also working


with


Leeds City Council to review what further improvements can be made.”


INVERNESS CABBIE IS WORRIED AS 20MPH SPEED LIMIT COSTS HIM MORE AND LOSES BUSINESS


A taxi driver has raised concerns about the widespread introduction of 20mph speed limits across the Highlands which he fears will see firms losing business. The driver, with more than a decade’s experience, says having to drive at slower speeds means he is unable to serve as many passengers in a day as previously. He also believes slower speeds mean higher fuel consumption which may have to be paid for by raising the per mile cap for fares, potentially putting off customers. He said: “When the prices of fuel went up we couldn’t make a living as the price cap per mile was set at £1.80, so told the council that we


PHTM NOVEMBER 2023


couldn’t make a living and the price was increased to £2.20. “But due to the 20mph limit intro- duction, we will have to approach the council again for an increase which might lose me business.” Dozens of roads across the High- lands have


recently seen the


introduction of 20mph limits, in a bid to “improve road safety and foster vibrant, active communities across the north west.” The Inverness cabbie is not impressed, adding: “When I saw that it was introduced I thought it was just stupidity,” he said. “A taxi driver is a ‘time-ticking’ job, so when the speed dropped to 20mph, I expected to be picking up


two or three less customers per day.” He wants to see a proper consultation held with the public to explain the benefits of the 20mph limits, as well as full analysis of the roads where the new speed limits have


been


applied to see what difference if any it has made to accident rates. Duncan Fraser from the Inverness Taxi Alliance, said: “I think they have gone too far with the speed reduction as I don’t see there being any real need for it at the moment.


“I think that the 20mph speed introduction is good for residential areas, but overall I think it is ridiculous on more major roads.”


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