Taxi Driver Online

We're facing new wave of taxi strikes

TAXI drivers are set to strike again after councillors failed to meet their demands.

A heated meeting which saw Calderdale Council's licensing committee discuss several of the drivers' concerns "achieved nothing", said Calderdale Private Hire Association.

"They're saying they are listening but they're playing games," said secretary of the group, Sultan Mahmood.

"We'll have a meeting with our members and it will be up to them to decide if we strike but it's looking like they will do."

Drivers have already carried out two weekends of strike action over council regulations which they say are crippling their trade.

Mr Mahmood said some drivers were so unhappy with Calderdale's policies they were moving to other areas and even ready to hand in their taxi badges.

A third strike was shelved last month after a week of tense talks with the council.

Drivers had agreed to wait for the outcome of the licensing meeting when they were told their concerns would be raised.

David Ginley (Con, Warley) stressed to the meeting how important it was to listen to the taxi firms.

He said: "I think we do really need to listen to the private hire companies.

"It's never been as difficult to operate a private hire business.

"Every day fuel prices are on the rise and there is an increase in regulations and the hoops they have to jump through."

The committee heard that taxi companies requested rules on tinted windows to be relaxed, claiming current standards could be expensive and difficult to meet.

Councillors refused their suggestion to reduce the minimum light transmission from 70 per cent to 50 per cent but said they could drop it to 65 per cent.

They agreed to make rules on renewing licences more flexible and introduce a dual driver licence for private hire drivers and Hackney cabbies so people wanting to do both could save money.

The committee also asked for proposals to increase the length of time a vehicle can be used as a taxi and to make taxi MOT tests available at more garages to be discussed by a working party.

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

The fun could really start there now!!!

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Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

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Disagree with other members' views;
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I dont follow this....the guys a PH assoc...why does he want the LA to increase his fares? Surely thats his companies decision?

Sounds like a load of B*llock to me.

CC

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

I cannot understand Taxis striking as 1) it financially hurts the drivers and 2) alienates them against the punters.

If you have got enough to strike - then you have got enough to gridlock the town - now they definitely would not like that.

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if you cannot be yourself, then who can you be.

fuel price hikes of 20p a ltr doesnt add that much to running costs, its agood excuse without any substance

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most