Taxi Driver Online

Councillor's collision with cab driver sends protest tensions soaring


IT could hardly have happened at a worse time.

Tensions were already running high between angry taxi drivers and the politicians they accused of driving them out of business, when a car park bump threatened to spark a riot.

SNP councillor Willie Boyle was arriving for the meeting on controversial plans to lift the cap on taxi licences in West Lothian when his blue Ford Transit was involved in a collision with a cab belonging to one of the protesting drivers.

The scrape in the car park of West Lothian Council's headquarters only served to heighten friction between the two camps and police were eventually called to sort out the row.

To rub salt in the wound, Councillor Boyle was one of the executive committee members who then voted 10-2 in favour of allowing an unlimited number of taxi licences to operate.

One eye witness said: "There were certainly heated words exchanged and two police vehicles were on the scene pretty quickly. The two parties were arguing over who was to blame. I thought it was going to turn ugly given the feeling at that time.

"The taxi drivers were very angry as well as being nervous before the decision which affected their future livelihoods."

Councillor Boyle denied there was any friction between himself and the taxi driver.

He said: "I could have been aggressive if I had wanted to, but as a councillor I have to act in the proper manner and I waited in the building until the police arrived.

"I understand this is a very emotive issue. My brother was in the trade and I have friends who are taxi drivers."

Police said the incident happened just before 10am and no one had been charged.

There are currently 166 taxi licences in the county and chairman of the West Lothian Taxi Owners Association (WLTOA), Alistair Young, has criticised the council for the de-regulation decision.

Secretary of the group, Billy Hewitt, resigned from his post in disgust after the meeting.

Mr Young said: "Our pleas fell on deaf ears. We believe the decision was taken long ago so it was a waste of our time turning up.

"There is not enough work for the taxi drivers here at the moment, so more drivers will push people out of work, but the council totally ignored this argument."

Mr Young believes the decision will also open the door for gangsters to flood the local taxi ranks with cars to help launder money.

A series of reviews will now be carried out by the council before the decision is implemented over the next 12 months.

The council's environment leader Robert De Bold defended the decision, saying: "We believe this is a sensible move. It will provide a level playing field for the taxi trade and offer better choice to the people of West Lothian."

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

I know it's not funny, but.

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IDFIMH

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IDFIMH

CC

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

Deary me " West Lothian" only a hop, step and a jump along the road. Should the "plate owners" in Edinburgh be a little nervous at the prospect of our Council following suite ?

I think so . . . . With the state of the economy and the rising unemployment what choice do they have?

It's a dog eat dog world after all.

Survival of the fittest . . . bring it on . . . .

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

Exciting times ahead. You can watch history writing itself right before your very eyes. So much is happening it's hard to keep up.

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

Oh BTW Skull Edinburgh cab 486 with light blue livery was down here today went past the rank with a fag in his gob, just so happens our taxi inspector was on his rounds

What colour plates does west Lothian have

Not sure, I think it's a sort of, off white although it's supposed to be white if you know what I mean

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"