Taxi Driver Online

We know that taxi affairs in Edinburgh are conducted like a secret society. We know that the council, thinks it owns the trade and that we are all their serfs - employees in all but name and normal employed benefits.

We also know that CRT reps and those of the other companies have the ear of the council.

So, what has the council - Keir and Macleod - told CRT for it to seek permission from members to allow its fleet to expand up to 600 vehicles?

That CRT is contemplating this proves that we have been right all along. CRT is voting for de-restriction by this move. It now realises that it is coming, and soon.

CRT has long known of the demand for more taxis. While it was objecting to numerous licence applications it was establishing its own private hire operation, as well as corporate carriage service using mini-buses, work hitherto done by taxis, demand stolen from our trade.

CRT also proposed and supported the "party tariff", attempting to justify it because taxis were parked up when customers had to queue to get a ride home - a demand clearly not being properly met, and recognised by CRT.

The council has chosen to ignore these demand indicators. Just like its failure to increase the fleet despite its own Leader of the Council, Donald Anderson declaring that Edinburgh's economy was burgeoning, hotel rooms were increasing in number in response to inflating visitor numbers and responsible consultants were all being quoted testifying to Edinburgh's boom economy.

Yet our council managed to get Jacobs consultancy, in the face of all of this evidence, to arrive at a result of no increased demand for taxis. This was dishonesty verging on criminal irresponsibility that led to less taxis than needed, and two females known to have been sexually assaulted because their failure to hail a cab because of the council's artificial restriction encouraged them into unlicensed vehicles to get home.

All the while applicants for licences, who saw the demand, have been victims of council chicanery and skulduggery, CEC abusing proper process, and danced through expensive legal hoops, just for asking for what should be theirs by right - their Human Rights trampled on by the council's callous disregard of basic decency in the way it conducts itself.

And all the while those administering the council have been driving it to a £1.3 billion debt, Corporate Services have been squandering money on consultants fees and court cases defending their abrogation of the rights of individuals to have unfettered access to the tools of their trade - a fundamental Human Right.


What has happened here is a disgrace. Council officials have been fiddling with the process, with dire consequences. People have been hurt, drivers have been exploited and customers are not getting the best taxi service that the market should be delivering.

What are you going to do about it, Sue?

To be fair I think many of us will be trying hard to resist the urge to micturate our collective drawers while reading some of this.

I know I am.

_________________
Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.

Believe me, don't get Mercury X2

_________________
Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.

Believe me, don't get Mercury X2

Midlander,
if you do not have anything constructive to say why don't you [edited by admin] off back to the English section or have they told you the same ---you [edited by admin]

_________________
LET THE TRUTH BE TOLD

Trust me it's not de-restriction that is coming

_________________
Alway's been about Tightening the Grip!

Dougie, de-restriction is inevitable.

Recommend the NY Medallion System, raising vital funds to improve our Cab Office maybe!!! nudge nudge

_________________
Alway's been about Tightening the Grip!