Taxi Driver Online

Taxi drivers in 'blockade' row


TAXI wars are raging in Newton Abbot, with the owner of one firm claiming drivers illegally touting for business have already cost him more than £65,000.

Stephen Sargent from Olympic Taxis says his drivers have had their cars blockaded into their privately owned taxi rank on Market Street by other cab drivers.

According to Mr Sargent the problem is particularly bad on a Friday and Saturday night when customers are coming out of the Jolly Farmer pub.
"We are being victimised at the moment by anti-social drivers who are parking in our private taxi rank," Mr Sargent said.

"It's mayhem with taxi drivers who are not legally allowed to park there blocking us in.

"Over the past few months since deregulation I have lost thousands of pounds of revenue from drivers illegally touting for work. At my last estimate it was in excess of £65,000.

"Drivers are parking and queuing on double yellow lines and not moving on to the next available stand."

Cabbies were furious after Teignbridge Council removed restrictions which limited the number of Hackney carriage permits to 82.

In May Hackney carriage drivers lost their bid to prevent the council from issuing any more deregulated taxi licences.

Since then there has been fierce competition between drivers looking for trade.

A Teignbridge Council spokesman said: "We have been made aware of some issues regarding illegal parking by taxis in this area, and are working closely with the complainant and our partner agencies to try and remedy the situation.

"Late-night inspections have been undertaken by licensing officers, and more will be carried out.

"Longer term solutions are also being investigated, and these may include taking parking enforcement action if possible.

"Any obstruction of the highway could also be referred to the police, and Devon County Council as the highways authority, and may result in prosecution for offenders."

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