Fed-up cabbies call for clampdown
Fed-up cabbies in Northampton have signed a petition protesting against private hire drivers illegally plying for trade.
The Hackney cab operators say their trade is suffering and out of the 140 taxi drivers in the town, 110 have signed the petition.
Yesterday they vented their anger during a meeting of taxi drivers, Northamptonshire Police and the borough council.
Private hire drivers are banned by law from picking up passengers who hail a car. If they do pick up customers this way the driver is not insured for the journey.
Cabbies say their trade is being severely affected – and fear those private hire drivers who are breaking the law are putting the public's safety at risk.
Cabbie Marc Blundred represented taxi drivers at the meeting with police and Northampton Borough Council, at which the private hire issue was discussed.
Mr Blundred said the situation with private hire drivers was affecting the amount of money taxi drivers are making.
He said: "Private hire drivers working illegally stops passengers getting into taxis.
"I haven't made a profit since December.
"These people are taking the food out of our mouths.
"We need to raise public awareness.
"These drivers are happy to drive without insurance. They have no contractual agreements when they illegally ply for trade so they can charge whatever they like.
"We're losing trade to people who operate illegally.
"There is total acceptance from all drivers. It's beyond frustrating."
The petition states: "In the current economic downturn, there has been a massive increase in the brazen attitudes of a large proportion of private hire drivers (in plying illegally for trade].
"It has become common practice for fleets of private hire vehicles to illegally rank in areas of the town centre..."
The cabbies now hope to raise public awareness, so that passengers don't put themselves at risk.
Insp Dave Rayfield, of Northamptonshire Police, said: "We are aware of the issues and are formulating plans to tackle them.
"To that end, we are working in partnership with both the Hackney cab operators and the private hire companies, and also the licensing authority at Northampton Borough Council, to ensure that the rules and regulations are being adhered to."
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Weather for Northampton
Thursday 09 February 2012
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