source: ECHO
HUNDREDS of taxi drivers have told Basildon Council the industry is in peril because bosses are handing out too many cab licences.
The concerned drivers aired their views at a special meeting with Basildon councillors and Labour parliamentary candidate Angela Smith.
They claim the rising numbers of taxis operating in the area is forcing them to work up to 12 hours a day, just to break even.
According to the cabbies, overwork was putting drivers’ and passengers’ lives at risk.
They want Tory-run Basildon Council to put a limit on the number of licensed drivers in the district, as it did up until 2005.
Terry Flanagan, from taxi drivers’ union the GMB, said nearly 150 drivers turned out at the meeting.
He added: “This industry is in a highly dangerous condition and the council now knows this.
“We’re not asking for a reduction in the number of drivers on the road, we’re just asking them not to hand out any more licences.
“They also know, unless something is done, the majority of cab drivers will go out and vote Labour.”
Specifically, cabbies want the council to carry out an unmet demand survey on hackney carriages, to determine how many people use taxis in the district.
The drivers would foot the £15,000 bill, but only the council can commission it.
So far it has refused to conduct the poll.
Tony Ball, council leader, told drivers at the meeting the council had set up a special task force to look into the issues.
He said: “I do sympathise with the drivers. They have suffered through the recession.
“I assured them we are going to review the whole policy.” Mr Ball estimated the review would take a year.
Angela Smith, who is standing as MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, said: “They’ve got a case to have this looked at properly and I will be urging the council to do this.
“If it doesn’t, then we could have a situation where residents can’t find taxis and drivers have fallen by the wayside.”
