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Airport taxi drivers stage mass blockade
TAXI drivers at Glasgow Airport today staged a mass blockade over changes enforced following last year's terror attack. Inverclyde Taxis won a £2million contract in April to supply radios to the drivers in a bid to improve security at the airport.
The firm introduced a £60-a-week levy on all 155 vehicles and fitted cars with a data tracking system to monitor their movements.
But the move has sparked widespread anger as airport owners BAA Scotland already charges £100-a-month for permits and protesters claim there have been problems over credit hire payments and network coverage since the changes were introduced.
Dozens of drivers staged a blockade at the airport and drove around the site in a convoy as part of a two-hour demonstration this morning. It meant disruption for passengers who emerged from the terminal to find the main taxi rank empty. Drivers dropping off passengers for flights were also held up in the taxi blockade.
One taxi driver, who asked not to be named, said: "The majority of people using Glasgow Airport for years think we provide a good service of taxis. "It's a safe, clean, reliable and well organised rank - so why the big changes?"
Another added: "Every week they seem to bring out new rules. The system isn't working but most of us already shell out vast sums on new taxis." The data tracker can pinpoint the location of the taxis at all times and relay the information to security chiefs and the police.
Henry Glasgow, managing director of Inverclyde Taxis, was unavailable for comment today, but a spokesman for BAA Scotland said: "We apologise to our passengers for any inconvenience they may have suffered as a result of this action.
"This blockade appears to have been designed to cause maximum disruption. "We will be seeking urgent meetings with the taxi management company and the licensing authority. "All too often, there are too few taxis to meet demand at peak times. This causes huge frustration for our passengers."
He added: "We chose Inverclyde Taxis because of their proven track record of customer service and because of their commitment to invest £500,000 on new technology to deliver a more seamless, customer-focused service and provide more taxis at peak times - a common complaint among passengers."
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