Source: This is Gloucestershire
TAXI drivers in Cheltenham say the industry has been “brought to its knees” by a lack of support from the borough council.
Hackney carriage drivers in the town are struggling to find enough work in the recession, with many bringing in less than £30 per day.
But they say they have been further undermined by Cheltenham Borough Council’s “soft stance” towards private hire vehicles.
Throughout the rest of Gloucestershire and in other parts of the UK, it is illegal for private hire drivers to pick up customers from the street without the journey being booked beforehand.
But in Cheltenham they can do it as long as the customer approaches them first and they radio the job back to their depot.
A spokesman for the hackney carriage drivers said the system has allowed private hire vehicles to run roughshod over regulations.
Gary Knight of Springbank said: “The taxi trade in Cheltenham is on its knees, and the borough council is not doing enough to support it.
“Their soft stance towards private hire vehicles is at the crux of the problem. We’ve got a situation where they are loitering on the ranks and near busy areas to pick up business.
“It’s illegal but enforcement in the town is almost non-existent.”
He said drastic action needs to be taken by the council to revive the trade, including bringing its rules surrounding private hire fares into line with the rest of the county.
He said: “We need to educate on the point that when they get into a private hire vehicle without booking it, the journey could be uninsured. It’s the customer who will suffer in the end. Sooner or later, if this carries on, there will be an accident involving an uninsured vehicle, and no-one wants that.”
Dave Halladay, a taxi driver from Churchdown, said: “The problems with Cheltenham’s taxi trade have been there for a long time, but the situation has been made worse by the recession.
“The council is happy to take money off hackney drivers for their license fee, but when it comes to supporting us they do nothing. It is killing the trade.”
Richard Griffiths, from the council’s licensing team, said: “We have received complaints about private hire drivers touting for business. This is illegal and we will take action if we see evidence that this is happening.”
