Taxi Driver Online

TAXI drivers have held a protest march in Chelmsford in the latest move to get talks started with council bosses.

Chelmsford Taxi Association is threatening to strike over the New Year in its fight to get Chelmsford Council to stop issuing Hackney Carriage plates and carry out an unmet needs survey.

Around 50 drivers took part in the march on Saturday.

Terry Michel, secretary of the CTA, said it handed out its petition.

He added: “All we are asking is for the council to stop issuing licences – not an increase in taxi fares. Nine licences have been issued this year and if nothing is done, drivers will be put out of work.”

Mr Michel admitted the strike would affect drivers’ livelihood at one of the busiest times of the year, but said “no pain, no gain”.

Following a meeting with the CTA, Chelmsford Vintners Association – representing the licensed trade – has expressed its concern there could be no taxis on the roads over New Year and urged the council to initiate talks with the CTA.

Chairman Bob Bennett said: “Nearly everyone I speak to believes we have enough cabs on our roads. This impending cab strike clearly concerns our members greatly with no cabs available – clearly many will be tempted to ‘drink drive’ and we all know the consequences of that.

“This council must protect this vital service to our customers and the public.”

A spokeswoman for the council said it had been agreed to carry out a review into taxi provision within the borough.

She added: “Chelmsford Borough Council hopes the taxi trade takes this opportunity to present its views in a meaningful and responsible way and therefore enable a robust review to take place.

“All parties across the council are agreed it will not be taking any further action until this review has reported in April and we urge hackney carriage drivers to refrain from any more action that disrupts the lives of members of the public while having no effect on the outcome of the review.”

Private hire vehicles are not affected by the proposed strike.

source; http://www.chelmsfordweeklynews.co.uk/n ... est_march/

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

Pretty certain if none of the hackneys work PH will be affected.

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IDFIMH

Nice to see the kids on the march though, exercise is something most kids dont seem to get these days, what with those new fangled X boxes and play stations, one had a santa hat on too because its going to be christmas soon.

CC

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

Not a GMB banner between them.