Solihull taxi drivers protest against "draconian" conditions
November 30 2010
Angry taxi drivers held a mass demonstration in Solihull town centre as they accused the local council of imposing “draconian” conditions upon them.
Around 200 licensed cabbies travelled in convoy from Station Road to Solihull Council House, sounding horns and waving banners in protest as they claimed private hire drivers were being given unfair advantages.
Police officers stood guard as the drivers, members of transport union RMT, hit out at the marshalled “mobile pick-up” points the council has introduced for private-hire vehicles, claiming they are undermining the licensed hackney cab trade.
The council’s head of licensing, Gavin Morris, received a letter they delivered arguing the new system was not properly regulated and even claiming some marshalls were acting as illegal “touts” for private hire cars in prime locations.
Saqib Ali, vice chairman of Solihull RMT Hackney branch, said drivers’ incomes had been reduced by 60 per cent in a year.
He said black cabs cost up to £30,000 to buy and drivers were already faced with two MoT tests a year on top of a stringent supplementary test, adding: “Last year the council made a prohibition order so that cabs could not go into the town centre.
“We’ve been stuck in an alleyway behind, which is unlit and unsafe for both the public and the drivers. We believe the private hire vehicles aren’t being regulated properly. We are demanding our rights back and access to all ranks.”
RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: “Solihull’s 244 licensed taxi drivers have invested something like £7 million in providing purpose-built taxis and have to pass knowledge exams, but they are being squeezed to the point that several have already been declared bankrupt or had their taxis repossessed.
“That is shortsighted and all our members are asking is for some fairness and co-operation from Solihull’s licensing office, and an end to the unfair advantage being given to a private-hire sector that is regulated far less rigorously.”
Solihull council was unavailable to comment on the dispute.
Source; http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top- ... 7738550/2/
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