Source: This is South Wales
Taxi chiefs have threatened mass town centre demonstrations unless action is taken to cut the number of cabs on the road.
They claim there are too many licensed taxis around, leaving drivers struggling to make a living.
According to Neath Port Talbot Proprietors Association secretary Bob Hoyles, some cabbies were having to work 20-hour days and were left so exhausted there was the risk of an accident.
The association wants a moratorium on new hackney carriage licences being issued for the next five years.
But its plea to Neath Port Talbot Council could fail today after officers came out against the idea.
Mr Hoyles said: “If that happens, we will take some form of direct action.
“We will have to bring all 283 licensed taxis into Neath, Port Talbot and Pontardawe town centres in turn, just to show people how many cars there are on the road.”
As well as taxis, there are licensed private hire vehicles competing for trade, which Mr Hoyles said took the total number of cars to more than 500 in an area as relatively small as Neath and Port Talbot.
But, making matters even worse, drivers licensed by other authorities are also moving into the area to try to make money.
All this has been compounded by the economic crisis, which has seen many people use public transport instead.
Today’s registration and licensing committee will be recommended not to take the association’s request any further.
However, Mr Hoyles said councillors have a duty of care to the taxi trade.
“Somewhere along the line, the council will have to accept responsibility for the accident that will inevitably happen,” he said.
“I’ve got drivers working 20-hour shifts, not to make money, but just to survive — to feed their kids and keep a roof over their head.
“They are absolutely exhausted and something is going to happen.
“This situation cannot be allowed to continue.”
Councillors will today be told about an Office of Fair Trading report concluding that limiting the number of taxis would reduce availability and lower the quality of service to the public.
