Taxi Driver Online

Is Weston-super-Mare train station right to double licence fee for taxi drivers?

TAXI drivers operating at Weston-super-Mare train station say they may stop running taxis from the destination in the future after their licence fee was doubled. First Great Western used to grant the permits to self-employed drivers wanting to pick up passengers from the town centre station at a cost of £300 a year.

However, from this month the licences will be granted by Cabfind, a supplier of taxi management services, which has stated the fee will rise to £600 a year. Drivers at Weston station are outraged at the massive hike and are refusing to pay the amount saying it is far too expensive, particularly with the majority of passengers walking to town instead of using taxis.

They have held talks with Cabfind, who said it was prepared to drop the figure to £480 but said all drivers must may the amount in full by February 28. Richard Hopkins, 40, a taxi driver of 12 years, who has operated from Weston railway station for the past three years, says it is unfair and the drivers are not prepared to pay the huge fee.

He said: "Up until now First Great Western have issued the licences but Cabfind take over at the end of the month. "They are coming in and putting up the licence fee by 100 per cent, which is doubling it from £300 to £600.

"The firm says the reason for the hike is because they base the licence fee on footfall of passengers departing at Weston but they cannot go on that. "Most people leave the station on foot as we are only five minutes' walk to the town centre and the beach.

"I have spoken to all the other drivers and they are not willing to pay £600. "Cabfind has since said it will give us a discount of 20 per cent bringing it down to £480 but this is on the basis of us renewing our licence by the end of the month but this is still too much.

"At the end of the day we are in a recession and we should be getting a discount if anything. "If drivers are not prepared to pay it, passengers may find no taxis waiting at Weston station. "One of the longest serving drivers at the station, of 25 years, says he will not bother at that sort of price."

Mr Hopkins said drivers are also angered by the news Cabfind has awarded a contract to Apple Cars to transport passengers elsewhere in the event of trains stopping, which is a service they have always provided.

He added: "We were under the impression we would still get the work if a train stopped working or there were delays and passengers needed transporting to Bristol Temple Meads by taxi, but we have now heard that has been given to Apple. "We may as well go and work from another rank for free."

The Evening Post contacted Cabfind but they declined the opportunity to comment.

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IDFIMH

Ahhhh I wondered when the cabbies would rise up against CabFind instead of paying them their inflated prices??

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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

There's no surprise there considering Cabfind was started by a PH Company

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

Cross Boarder hiring at it's best.

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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

Them scousers, they get everywhere

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

I've heard they are due at York Station too, when the contract is due for renewal!!

In most LAs it needs someone like CabFind to whip the cab trade into shape, because it's sure as f*ck the cab trade can't sort themselves out and work together.

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Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

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How exactly does Cabfind "whip the cab trade into shape"

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

When you have licensed areas in which groups of drivers form cliques working against one another, with some having rights to special ranks and other being barred from them, an organisation like CabFind comes in and 'harvests'!!!

They get the contract, drivers pay them and there's no one barred from working the special ranks as long as you pay!!

Also, they set the rules; if you don't like them, then don't pay, your choice!!

Unfortunately, the likes of CabFind have been a long time coming to the taxi trade in general, nationally!!

The trade has kept shooting itself in the foot for decades; is it little wonder that in some areas it is now hobbling?

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Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

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Brum the same scenario will still exist and due to the extortionate rates cab find charge, a driver, who has worked that rank could be out due to not being able to afford it,
I think this needs to be brought to the attention of the rail ombudsman

Your right drivers and owners need to get together and fight cabfind all the way, they should all refuse to pay and stay away from any station cabfind has taken over, they should be trying to get ranks outside them to end all this pay or feck off scenario

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

Ask yourself why CabFind are flourishing in areas where the taxi trade can't sort themselves out!!

Is it that the rail companies are sick to the back teeth of multi-representation by numerous taxi bodies in the same area and now prefer to deal with one company nationwide?

I think so!!

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Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

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Disagree with other members' views;
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So that benefits the rail company. What I was curious about is how it benefits the taxi trade. I fully understand why the rail company do it.

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

It doen't.

But then the taxi trade have had a few centuries to sort themselves out and are still fighting amongst themselves.

It's the taxi trade that have divided themselves to conquer themselves and now they are reaping what they have sowed.

It's little wonder firms like CabFind are flourishing.

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Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

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Disagree with other members' views;
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Even the public don't really benefit from this type of company cos they don't have any standards other than the requirement that you pays your money

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

Not sure how you define an area that aren't getting their act together, and I'm not sure if Cabfind play any part in that.

If the station say you must pay £5/600 a year, then drivers will pay it.

If for no other reason that to get their colleagues out.

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IDFIMH