December 25, 2007 Tuesday
Cab company axes New Year's Eve service
Somerset County Gazette
A TAUNTON taxi company has axed its service on New Year's Eve, claiming staff are too scared of violent behaviour to work.
The decision, by Andrew Woodford, of Ace Taxis, could leave party-goers with a longer wait for a ride home and has sparked a row in the town's taxi ranks.
Mr Woodford said he was unable to provide cover from 6pm on New Year's Eve until 8am New Year's Day.
He said: "It's a significant minority of customers who are causing the problems. But drivers are not prepared to give up time with family and friends to deal with such customers, no matter what the potential level of earnings may be.
"I fully support their point of view since I pay for repairs to the door and body panels which have been kicked by drunken passengers.
"I sincerely apologise to those of our regular customers who may have been expecting to use us, but, once again, the majority have to be inconvenienced by an uncaring, feckless minority."
Robert Johnston of Taunton's A1 Taxis, who will be running a normal New Year service, said: "I think it's very unfair on the public because it's an all-night celebration and a time we must be working to make sure people get home."
But Ace's decision has been backed by Roger Ryan, owner of Deane Taxis and chairman of the Taunton Taxi Owners' Association.
"We are working as normal, albeit a skeleton taxi crew," he said.
"Why shouldn't the Ace drivers have the night off like everyone else? We are not a public service, we are private enterprises and if they don't want to work that's fine."
A police spokesman said: "Police will be out and about on New Year's Eve and will crack down on anti-social behaviour."
DID you have trouble getting home on New Years' Eve? How long were you waiting? Did you witness any problems of anti-social behaviour?
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