http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2007/10/10/newsstory10397491t0.asp
Taxi drivers plan rolling roadblocks
DUNDEE TAXI drivers last night voted to set up rolling roadblocks at peak times to highlight the “contempt” they say the city council is showing the trade.
Drivers’ representatives at a meeting of the taxi trade in the Dee Club warned the roadblocks will get under way along with wildcat strikes “sooner rather than later.”
The Courier was asked to leave the meeting when the roadblock routes and times were being discussed—but it is thought they could take place as soon as tonight.
Around 250 licensed badge holders also unanimously voted to go to the Standards Commission for Scotland with regards “the conduct of councillors” sitting on the city’s licensing committee.
They will also ask the independent watchdog to investigate Tayside Police, accusing them of “turning a blind eye” to private hire cars “touting” for trade on the streets of the city.
“Strike action and rolling roadblocks are the answer until such time as we can go through the legal process, which will take time,” said Erik Thoresen of the Wheelchair Taxi Association.
“There is no point going to the council—the contempt they show the taxi trade is totally ridiculous.”
The drivers are demonstrating to highlight their concerns over what they see is a failure to enforce restrictions on the private hire sector, in particular Dundee Private Hire, otherwise known as 203020.
Drivers at last night’s meeting accused both the council and police of being less than pro- active in investigating private hire cars allegedly contravening the terms of their licence, such as picking up in the street.
They are also furious that 203020 had been operating without valid licences for several months after the original company ceased trading and a new company with the same name continued using the taxi plates—a move against council policy.
Their anger increased when the council agreed to grant 71 public taxi plates to the private hire firm at a meeting held behind closed doors.
Dundee Taxi Association was awaiting a response from Stuart Galloway, the council official charged with hearing their grievances, before making recommendations at last night’s meeting.
Secretary Michael Mulholland said he’d been contacted yesterday by Mr Galloway, who said some of the issues raised could only be discussed in the presence of the police and planning department.
He said they would therefore have to wait until a meeting of the licensing committee on October 17—a response described as “insulting” by Mr Thoresen.
Mr Thoresen said he wasn’t holding out “any hope” that the issues would be tackled, adding that “this has gone on too long” and that he had lost faith with councillors and politicians
“If we don’t take action tonight, we are going back the way,” he told the audience.
A call for rolling roadblocks and strike action was unanimously voted on.
“The council hasn’t listened to anything we’ve said and enough is enough,” said Chris Elder, taxi branch secretary of T & G Unite.
“We’re going to write to the Standards Commission with regards the conduct of the licensing committee because we feel that they have not acted in the proper manner.
“Hopefully the council will take note of this—they have not been listening to us since day one.
“Rolling roadblocks first, then there will be strike action as well—wildcat strikes, sooner rather than later.
“There is time for the council to turn this round but we feel this is not an issue to be discussed at a liaison committee. We would rather it was discussed at a meeting with taxi licence holders.”
Mr Elder said they were also unhappy with Dundee MP Stewart Hosie’s representation in the “taxi wars.”
“We felt that when we put our case with Mr Hosie that we were maybe going to get some kind of discussion, but we feel we’ve been let down,” he said.
“We feel our meetings with Stuart Galloway are a waste of time.
“We’ve lost faith and I feel that you’d be as well speaking to the wall than sitting at a liaison committee.”
Mr Thoresen said, “The guys have had enough and that’s why they have voted to take this action tonight.
“It’s pointless going to Tayside Police, Dundee City Council or politicians—we are going to have to go to a higher body. But this will take time so we’ve also got to take action now.”
At last night’s meeting licensed badge holders also voted against members coming off the city council’s liaison committee, despite their grievances.
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