Taxi Driver Online

Go-slow protest over black cab plan



Taxi drivers are planning a go-slow protest through Wolverhampton to oppose council proposals to bring more black cabs into the city.

Council bosses say they have received complaints that there are not enough taxis available, particularly at weekends and in the evenings.

But drivers are disputing this, saying that taxi numbers have shot up in recent years while trade has fallen dramatically.

A consultation has been launched by the council with the aim of increasing the number of Hackney Carriages available to boost night time trade. But Parminder Sekhon, chairman of the Wolverhampton Taxi Owners’ Association, said any move to increase black cabs could in no way be justified. “This would kill us,” Mr Sekhon said. “Trade is already down 50 per cent compared to five or six years ago and fuel prices are at an all-time high.

“There used to be 65 black cabs in Wolverhampton and now there are 170 – and that’s just black cabs, not private hire.

“The council just want to flood the streets with cabs.

“It’s in their interests to do so because they receive more licensing money, for which we already pay the highest rates in the West Midlands.

“We have got a protest being planned to show just how many taxis we have got. We plan to block the streets and do a go-slow through the city.”

Views are also being sought on proposals that prospective Hackney Carriage drivers would be allowed to buy taxis up to eight years of age. Currently drivers must buy brand new Hackney Carriages. Nick Edwards, Wolverhampton council’s assistant director for regeneration, said: “These proposals form one element of a major piece of work that has been commissioned to explore options for how we can enhance the city centre offer.

“We have been told that people feel there are not enough taxis available, particularly at weekends and of the evenings.” He added: “I must stress that these are only proposals at this stage and we want to hear the views of all interested parties.” The consultation runs until September 14.


source: http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2012 ... z24G95qOYy

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

Another case of Councils not knowing whats happening in the real World so they say a couple of evening at the weekend there's supposed to be a shortage of Black Cabs, they may well be right but a couple of nights with a Cab shortage supposedly does not warrant the over manning that there is Wolverhampton, the rest of the Time when Ranks are overflowing to the extent that they are, as reported in the Media recently by Joe Public that Cabs are taking up Car Park spaces unnecessarily and causing chaos by doing so, come on Wolverhampton Council you cannot have it both ways and expect Owners to make a living doing reasonable hours which if it is anything as bad Telford who only have 35 Black Cabs and a never ending supply of Private Hire parking everywhere like flies on m*** for much less then the minimum wage, God bless the Welfare State, and then wonder why the Countries in the State its is. Never mind the Owners who have committed to buying new cabs to get a licence, more Hackneys does not mean there is going to be any more work, the cake is only so big, but what do I and the rest of the Cab Trade who actually do the job really know.

Mal

Interesting that these cab owners are objecting to the only new vehicle rules.

Maybe they should be introduced to the many drivers on here or elsewhere that have campaigned for older vehicles to be allowed.

And I bet that there are many Wolverhampton drivers that have cursed the rules when their 5 year old vehicle gets written off and they have top buy a brand new one.

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IDFIMH

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p0 ... 2_08_2012/

Slide the time-slider to 1:36:05 and listen.

ALSO;

At 2:10:10 and 2:46:45.

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Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

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