Taxi Driver Online

Taxi Wars

5th August 2008

Cruise liner passengers arriving in Southampton could be left stranded at the docks as a war between rival taxi firms threatens to erupt.

Taxi trade leaders say the situation is like a "tinder box" and last night called for emergency talks with port bosses. They say drivers fear for their livelihoods and that "it would not take much" for a blockade or boycott to bring chaos to the docks.

The row centres on proposals to allow private hire cabs to pick up passengers disembarking at Southampton.

Currently, only hackney carriage cabs, those that can be hailed in the street, operate at the city's three cruise terminals.

Port owner Associated British Ports (ABP) wants to allow in more taxis because of the boom in super-liners, which can carry up to 4,000 passengers, calling at Southampton.

ABP is considering a number of solutions, including a proposal from the owner of private hire firm West Quay Cars to allow all Southampton's cabs open access to the terminals.

Rank marshals inside the terminals would co-ordinate the scheme, to be funded by a £1 surcharge paid by the passenger.

The scheme, dubbed Combined Taxis of Southampton, is the brainchild of West Quay Cars boss Lee Haynes, who has set out his plan in a letter posted to more than 1,000 drivers.

Mr Haynes said the operation would be run totally independently and that he was simply trying to improve the service received by tourists arriving in Southampton.

He told the Daily Echo: "There are people who spend £8,000 on their annual holiday and then are being greeted with guys in flip-flops and football shorts and they are being charged £20 to go to the airport - I don't want people to have that impression of my city. It's something I'm passionate about. I'm trying to do something for the whole of the trade, but everyone is against me because they are not getting the right information."

Taxi trade representatives are angry at a lack of consultation and say they have been "left in the dark" by ABP.

Transport and General Workers' Union cab section chairman, Perry McMillan agreed there had been an increase in passenger numbers, but said the trade as a whole should be involved in developing a solution. He said: "We don't have a problem with a private hire car making a general booking, but what we do object to is somebody who sees an opportunity to expand their own company with no benefit to the docks or passengers.

"If we do not get around the table with ABP, or if West Quay Cars are given a free hand, then there will be a lot of drivers who will be frightened for their livelihoods in what is a very difficult time to earn a living.

"If that happens, then I think there will be a rise in militancy among taxi drivers."

Clive Johnson, chairman of the Southampton Taxi Consultative Council and Radio Taxis, said he had been forced to quell talk of industrial action.

"It's a tinder box and at this present moment I have got control of it, but if they (ABP) do not sit down and talk to us it would not take much," he said.

"We want to show ABP that the main body of the trade is there to help them."

An ABP spokesman said it was committed to undertaking a full consultation process with the trade, but would not comment on threats of industrial action.

Ian Hall, chairman of the Southampton Hackney Association, said there should be no talk of militant action.

"The docks are on private land owned by ABP and they can do whatever they want," Mr Hall said.

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Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.

Really?

Regards

JD

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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.

Why shouldn't PH pick up from the cruise liners?

It's worth reminding folks that up and till the end of January this year most of the cars picking up from these terminals were un-licensed.

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IDFIMH

Can you post a reference for that, please?

The Southampton Hackney trade is predominently, as far as I observe, independents and one company: Radio Taxis (Southampton). There is chaos at the docks when a cruise ship 'disgorges' it's passengers, mainly because of the sheer numbers involved, but HC do appear to service the area reasonably well.

The roads are within the docks area, inside security gates, but each berth has a rank. What are the legal implications of allowing a PH company to appoint marshals to control the business? Must a PH be booked on board the ship, for example?

How about....(here's an idea!)....conducting an unsatisfied demand survey ?

As long as I can collect my pre-booked fares, from when they embarked, I won't be to worried but, I do feel for the local lads somewhat.

I thought it was common knowledge.

Before the amendment to the 1976 act, in the 2006 Road Safety Act, the docks was a contract exemption paradise.

I was in a room a year or so ago when a local LO from down there explained that when they did a spot check at the docks out of a 100 odd cars waiting less than half a dozen were licensed.

Give the Southampton licensing team a ring to get the full SP.

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IDFIMH