Taxi firms volunteer Dundee cab cap
Dundee taxi drivers have voted overwhelmingly to ask council officials to cap the number of taxis in the city, following widespread concerns about the downturn in trade.
Taxi drivers at the Dee Club.
- Published in the Courier : 31.03.10
- Published online : 31.03.10 @ 07.42pm
Scores of drivers attended a meeting chaired by Dundee Taxi Association secretary Tony Waters in the Dee Club in Lochee, in which they almost unanimously decided to take their case to a special council liaison committee due to meet in May.
Many drivers have complained that financial pressures are forcing them to work up to 15 hours a day in order to make a profit, sparking concerns for passenger safety.
The problem is said to be exacerbated by private hire cars picking up passengers on the street, despite the fact they are not legally entitled to do so.
Prior to the vote a number of drivers proposed an increase in fares as a means of offsetting the problem, but Dundee Taxi Association chairman Graeme Stephen warned this should be approached with caution.
He suggested it could lead to further business being lost in an already difficult trading environment and that customers may opt to use other modes of transport if taxis should become more expensive.
He said, "More and more people have their own cars now. We used to get a lot of hires from women taking their kids to school and going shopping, but many of them now drive.
"It's the same with students. Now that there is so much student accommodation in the city centre, the demand for taxis has gone down, but running costs are going up.
"If the council decides not to cap the number of taxis on the road, then we could look at price increases.
"I know that they had a similar situation in Edinburgh recently and their drivers were awarded a 25% increase.
"But right now if we put the prices up, someone who is getting 12 hires a day may only get nine."
Mr Stephen said he was optimistic about the liaison meeting in view of the relationship the taxi trade had with the administration at the helm of Dundee City Council.
He advised the drivers of extra rank space which has been allocated in the city.
There will be three additional spaces outside the DCA, three across from the city centre branch of KFC and three outside Central Bar at Meadowside.
