Taxi Driver Online

Crackdown on rogue taxicabs


CABBIES operating in Tonbridge town centre have been warned to be on their best behaviour – or face a fine and possible suspension.

Rogue drivers operating from the Waterloo Road rank, outside the station, are currently the subject of a crackdown by borough council enforcement officers.

The Courier can reveal that in the last two weeks there has been a series of "action evenings" where officers have "taken no prisoners".

One driver was fined for smoking in his car, with another three suspended for not having a badge, not having valid insurance and for refusing to take a passenger a short distance.

Council officer Katie Iggulden said: "We went out in the worst possible weather recently, on a day when we would take no prisoners.


"The parking attendants moved lots of taxis who were extending the rank illegally and handed out the fixed penalty notices and also suspended three drivers.

"We've got some more nights of action planned in the next few weeks."

News of the crackdown comes as the council reviews its decision to increase the number of taxi stands in the town centre.

In July 2009 council officers revealed they wanted to install a new rank in front of shops at Railway Approach after receiving complaints from Waterloo Road residents about late-night disturbances.

But the plan was labelled as "utter madness" by councillors who instead agreed the Waterloo Road rank would be doubled in width, increasing the number of spaces there from 11 to 21, and a further nine ranks would be installed elsewhere in the town.

Councillors said at a licensing and appeals committee meeting on Thursday that the new layout was working well, but there were still some final tweaks to be made to the system.

These include the installation of more signs in the area, the removal of redundant markings and the installation of a shelter for waiting passengers.

Are you being affected by anti-social behaviour at the ranks? Have your say online at www.thisiskent.co.uk/tonbridge.

source: http://www.thisiskent.co.uk/tonbridge/

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

Only a small place like Winchester.... Are they over saturated there too?
Sounds the same as standards go