Another one about the cross-border situation in Brum. But not confined to that area, obviously, and there's a huge swathe of drivers missing out because they don't live in the area they work in.
Brum cabbie denied Covid grant by city council is making just £20 a day
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/m ... t-19940657
Waqar Khan, 48, has lost over 80 percent of his custom during the pandemic - but was denied a £1,000 Covid support grant as he lives just a mile over the city border in Smethwick
Image: Birmingham Mail
A Brum cabbie told how he was denied a Covid support grant by the city council despite losing over 80 percent of his custom during the pandemic.
Hardworking Waqar Khan, who only operates within the city and holds a licence and badge with Birmingham City Council, said he sometimes goes two hours without picking up a fare, while other days he makes just £20 all day.
The father-of-two applied for a one-off £1,000 Covid grant, which is a special crisis scheme set up to financially support drivers who hold council licenses and live in Birmingham.
But Mr Khan's request was denied by the authority as he lives just a mile over the border near Cape Hill in Smethwick, Sandwell.
The 48-year-old thinks the decision is "unfair" and is calling on the council to reverse the ruling.
"I think this is really unfair. All my work is in the city centre and I can't work anywhere else," hackney carriage driver Mr Khan told BirminghamLive.
"I pay my badge fees and others to Birmingham council and have a Birmingham council licence.
"The council says this grant is for Birmingham residents whose work is affected by Covid. My question is how is it my fault if I live in Sandwell? l have been affected as well and I work in Birmingham.
"I have lost more than 80 percent of custom. A lot of businesses have been closed, like bars, hotels and offices, so not as many people are coming into the city centre.
"Sometimes I'm waiting for a couple of hours without any fares. Sometimes I'm here I might make only £20 for the whole day. This grant is vital."
The council said are "unfortunately unable to support drivers who are non-residents of Birmingham" due to limited funds available.
“We fully appreciate the challenges that taxi trade is currently facing and in recognition of this Birmingham City Council recently announced a one-off grant of £1k to the taxi sector," a Birmingham City Council spokesperson said.
“However, in order to be eligible for the Birmingham scheme the driver must be a Birmingham resident, hold a Birmingham licence and show that they have been significantly impacted by government restrictions.
“The City Council has only limited funding available and can only support those drivers, which meet the eligibility criteria.
"Unfortunately we are unable to support drivers who are non-residents of Birmingham.”
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