Taxi Driver Online

Taxi drivers stage protest over decision to move them out of the Horsefair, Wisbech


Dave Patrick leads the taxi drivers' protest at Wisbech, Cambridgeshire
By Elaine King

A HUGE protest banner was unfurled above the Wisbech Horsefair taxi rank yesterday as taxi drivers launched their second mass protest in an attempt to keep their rank on the site.

Around 40 drivers - many carrying placards - crowded on to the rank but, unlike their first protest last year, did not bring their vehicles on to the Horsefair.

Dave Patrick, chairman of Wisbech and District Hackney Carriage Drivers Association, said: "We are carrying out this protest on foot being mindful of the operation of buses and in order to cause the minimum of disturbance to traffic movement on the Horsefair.



"While we appreciate this means that only a handful of taxis may be operating during this process, most members of the taxi using public fully support the taxis in their fight to stay on the Horsefair."

Mr Patrick and the taxi drivers hope their protest will lead to an overturning of a decision by Fenland District Council's licensing committee on March 5, which called for all taxis to be removed from the Horsefair.

Mr Patrick added: "Fenland district councillors, we urge you to listen to the people who have selected you at the ballot box and allow them their wishes.

"You are their elected representatives and the people have spoken."



SIGNATURES on a petition were collected from the public during the rally. Diane Balci was one of the taxi users who came out to support the protest.

"I use taxis two or three times a week for shopping and going to work," she said. "It is much easier for the public if taxis stay on the Horsefair."

Disabled Margaret Stanley, who has used taxis for 14 years, said: "It would be beneficial for me if taxis stay on the Horsefair. I use them two or three times a day."

Mr Patrick believes more than 50 per cent of his association members turned out for the protest.

"Some did not attend for fear of recriminations from the council," he added.

source: http://www.wisbech-standard.co.uk/

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

Time for Fenland Council and Wisbech taxi drivers to reconcile over rank's future

ROME wasn't built in a day so it might be unfair to expect the deconstruction of the issues surround the relocation of taxis on Wisbech Horsefair to be anything other than part of the agenda to be addressed by Fenland District Council's new management team.

However both Sandra Claxton, soon to be ratified as the new chief executive, and Councillor Alan Melton, settling in as the new leader, might find it reasonable to adjust their busy workloads to take a fresh look at the issue.

Wednesday's protest meeting of taxi drivers at the Horsefair, seeking public support for their campaign to retain a presence there, has struck a chord with the public who do not favour the total removal of all cabs.

There remains, of course, further consternation from the taxi driving fraternity over the measures - perceived by many drivers as draconian - over licence renewals in the wake of minor traffic infringements.

Whilst both issues may be regarded as demonstrating clarity of purpose on the part of those responsible for their enactment, clearly this is not being viewed as such at grassroots level.

That being so it does seem appropriate to us that a time for reconciliation is now needed. Surely it must remain a possibility that both sides can be brought together to seek a mutually satisfactory outcome?

That a by election is being dominated by the issue (hence the emergence of taxi drivers' leader Dave Patrick as a candidate is fine) but that should not be an excuse to delay a speedy resolution.

http://www.wisbech-standard.co.uk/content/wisbech/news/

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